Browsing by Author "Harries, J"

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    Misinformation and lack of knowledge hinder cervical cancer prevention
    (2009) Moodley, J; Harries, J; Barone, M
    Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 30 per 100 000 per year, and is the leading cause of cancer mortality among South African women.1 The National Department of Health (NDOH) national screening policy entitles every woman attending public sector services to 3 free Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in her lifetime at 10-year intervals, starting at the age of 30 years. Properly implemented, this policy could decrease the incidence of cervical cancer by more than 50%. Community awareness is the key to achieving optimal coverage and participation in the screening programme. The causative link between high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer has been established.2 HPV vaccine offers great potential for primary prevention of cervical cancer in South Africa. Two prophylactic vaccines, with a good safety profile and sustained efficacy after 5 years,3,4 have been licensed for use in South Africa but are not yet available in the public health sector. Secondary prevention of cervical cancer through Pap smears remains vitally important as all women will not be vaccinated, some cervical cancers are caused by HPV types not included in the current HPV vaccines, and the vaccines are not effective in women who already have HPV infection.
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    Self-induction of abortion among women accessing secondtrimester abortion services in the public sector Western Cape Province South Africa:an exploratory study
    (2014) Constant, D; Grossman, Daniel; Lince, Naomi; Harries, J
    BACKGROUND: Despite South Africa's liberal abortion law permitting abortion on request in the first trimester and under restricted conditions for second-trimester pregnancies, the practice of unsafe self-induced abortion persists. However, the prevalence of this practice, the methods used and the reasons behind it are relatively under-researched. As part of a larger study seeking to improve abortion services in the Western Cape Province, we explored reports of prior attempts to self-induce abortion among women undergoing legal second-trimester abortion. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and methods of and factors related to unsuccessful attempts at self-induction of abortion by women presenting without complications and seeking second-trimester abortion at public health facilities in the Western Cape. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study from April to August 2010, 194 consenting women undergoing second-trimester abortion were interviewed by trained fieldworkers using structured questionnaires at four public sector facilities near Cape Town. RESULTS: Thirty-four women (17.5%; 95% confidence interval 12.7 - 23.4) reported an unsuccessful attempt to self-induce abortion during the current pregnancy before going to a facility for second-trimester abortion. No factors were significantly associated with self-induction, but a relatively high proportion of this small sample were unemployed and spoke an indigenous African language at home. A readily available herbal product called Stametta was most commonly used; other methods included taking tablets bought from unlicensed providers and using other herbal remedies. No use of physical methods was reported. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of unsafe self-induction of abortion is relatively high in the Western Cape. Efforts to inform women in the community about the availability of free services in the public sector and to educate them about the dangers of self-induction and unsafe providers should be strengthened to help address this public health issue.