Zambia has the second-highest incidence of HPV-related cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, with a rate of 53.7 per 100,000 women, despite the availability of prophylactic HPV vaccines targeting HPV types 16 and 18....Zambia has the second-highest incidence of HPV-related cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, with a rate of 53.7 per 100,000 women, despite the availability of prophylactic HPV vaccines targeting HPV types 16 and 18. As parental consent is often required for adolescent vaccinations, understanding the factors influencing parental acceptance is essential. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and its associated factors among mothers of female children aged 9 - 14 years in Ndola, Zambia. This cross-sectional survey involved 350 mothers from selected townships in Ndola District and utilized multivariable logistic regression to analyze data. The findings revealed an HPV vaccine acceptability rate of 61.8%. Key factors influencing vaccine acceptance included knowledge of HPV, occupational status, and alcohol consumption. Mothers who had knowledge of HPV were 2.41 times more likely to accept vaccination for their daughters [AOR 2.41 (95% CI: 1.63 - 3.62)]. Employment status also played a significant role, with employed mothers being 1.47 times more likely to accept the vaccine [AOR 1.47 (95% CI: 1.02 - 2.13)]. Additionally, mothers who did not consume alcohol were 1.81 times more likely to accept the vaccine for their daughters [AOR 1.81 (95% CI: 1.22 - 2.66)]. We conclude that the HPV vaccine acceptability rate in Ndola, Zambia, remains suboptimal. This underscores the need for targeted interventions, such as public health campaigns and educational programs, to improve HPV vaccine knowledge and acceptance, particularly among specific demographic groups. Enhancing understanding of the HPV vaccine’s benefits could contribute to reducing the high burden of cervical cancer in Zambia.展开更多
Perineal trauma following childbirth affects over two-thirds of women in low and medium-income countries (LMICs) birthing in health facilities. Although it is an unfavourable outcome with the potential to affect many ...Perineal trauma following childbirth affects over two-thirds of women in low and medium-income countries (LMICs) birthing in health facilities. Although it is an unfavourable outcome with the potential to affect many aspects of a woman’s well-being in both the immediate and long-term, it is still a neglected phenomenon of women’s health, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries like Zambia. This study sought to understand the impact of birth perineal trauma on postnatal women at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH). This study employed a cross-sectional qualitative design using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Fifteen women who had birthed at NTH and sustained birth perineal trauma were purposively sampled as study participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews aided by an interview guide. Four themes, namely, perineal pain, substandard perineal wound management, fear of future reproductive health outcomes and diversion from reality, emerged from the study. Most women experiencing childbirth perineal trauma do not receive adequate care to manage their condition effectively. Therefore, midwives should utilise their professional knowledge and skills when providing postnatal care because morbidity affects women. Thus, it has the potential to negatively affect mother-infant bonding. The study concluded that birth perineal trauma is a distressing phenomenon of childbirth;hence, skillful repair, pain management and sexual counselling can greatly reduce its negative impacts.展开更多
文摘Zambia has the second-highest incidence of HPV-related cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, with a rate of 53.7 per 100,000 women, despite the availability of prophylactic HPV vaccines targeting HPV types 16 and 18. As parental consent is often required for adolescent vaccinations, understanding the factors influencing parental acceptance is essential. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and its associated factors among mothers of female children aged 9 - 14 years in Ndola, Zambia. This cross-sectional survey involved 350 mothers from selected townships in Ndola District and utilized multivariable logistic regression to analyze data. The findings revealed an HPV vaccine acceptability rate of 61.8%. Key factors influencing vaccine acceptance included knowledge of HPV, occupational status, and alcohol consumption. Mothers who had knowledge of HPV were 2.41 times more likely to accept vaccination for their daughters [AOR 2.41 (95% CI: 1.63 - 3.62)]. Employment status also played a significant role, with employed mothers being 1.47 times more likely to accept the vaccine [AOR 1.47 (95% CI: 1.02 - 2.13)]. Additionally, mothers who did not consume alcohol were 1.81 times more likely to accept the vaccine for their daughters [AOR 1.81 (95% CI: 1.22 - 2.66)]. We conclude that the HPV vaccine acceptability rate in Ndola, Zambia, remains suboptimal. This underscores the need for targeted interventions, such as public health campaigns and educational programs, to improve HPV vaccine knowledge and acceptance, particularly among specific demographic groups. Enhancing understanding of the HPV vaccine’s benefits could contribute to reducing the high burden of cervical cancer in Zambia.
文摘Perineal trauma following childbirth affects over two-thirds of women in low and medium-income countries (LMICs) birthing in health facilities. Although it is an unfavourable outcome with the potential to affect many aspects of a woman’s well-being in both the immediate and long-term, it is still a neglected phenomenon of women’s health, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries like Zambia. This study sought to understand the impact of birth perineal trauma on postnatal women at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH). This study employed a cross-sectional qualitative design using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Fifteen women who had birthed at NTH and sustained birth perineal trauma were purposively sampled as study participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews aided by an interview guide. Four themes, namely, perineal pain, substandard perineal wound management, fear of future reproductive health outcomes and diversion from reality, emerged from the study. Most women experiencing childbirth perineal trauma do not receive adequate care to manage their condition effectively. Therefore, midwives should utilise their professional knowledge and skills when providing postnatal care because morbidity affects women. Thus, it has the potential to negatively affect mother-infant bonding. The study concluded that birth perineal trauma is a distressing phenomenon of childbirth;hence, skillful repair, pain management and sexual counselling can greatly reduce its negative impacts.