Browsing by Author "Garland, S.M."

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    Distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes in archival cervical tissue from women with cervical cancer in urban Sri Lanka
    (Elsevier, 2011) Samarawickrema, N.A.; Tabrizi, S.N.; Hewavisenthi, J.; Leong, T.; Garland, S.M.
    OBJECTIVE: To identify the contributions of various human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in tissue samples from women diagnosed with cervicalcancer in Sri Lanka. METHODS: In a retrospective study, archival cervical tissues samples (n=108) obtained from Sri Lankan women diagnosed with histologically proven invasive squamous cell carcinoma between 2006 and 2007 were tested for HPV. Genotyping of HPV DNA was performed using an INNO-LiPA assay. RESULTS: Overall, 93% of tumor samples tested positive for HPV DNA. HPV types 16 and 18 accounted collectively for 83.4% of the positive samples. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the HPV genotypes responsible for causing cervical cancer in Sri Lanka are similar to those reported elsewhere worldwide. Consequently, women in Sri Lanka could benefit from currently available prophylactic HPV vaccines should they be implemented.
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    Knowledge and attitudes on Cervical Cancer and Its prevention amongst primigravid women
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2014) de Silva, A.H.W.; Kasturiratne, A.; Subasinghe, V.; Samarawickrema, N.; Garland, S.M.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
    INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To describe knowledge and attitudes on cervical cancer and its prevention amongst primigravid women METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst primigravid women aged 18-35 years attending the antenatal clinics of Colombo North Teaching Hospital in 2013. Data were collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire on their booking visit. RESULTS: 667 participated in the study. Mean age (SD) was 23.9 (4.4) years. Majority (67.5%) had passed G.C.E. Ordinary Level. 30% had heard about cervical cancer but only 11% knew of its viral aetiology.40% identified cervical cancer as a common cancer in Sri Lanka. 8% considered it to be familial and only 15% knew its transmissibility through sex. Knowledge on human papilloma virus (HPV) was very low. 9% had heard about the Papanicolaou test while only 50% of them knew that it could detect cervical cancer at a treatable stage. Only 5.4% had heard about HPV and 5.8% about a vaccine against HPV. Of the respondents who have heard about HPV 70% (21/39) knew that the infection can be prevented by a vaccine.10.5% strongly accepted undergoing periodical Papanicolaou tests as a good health practice while 45% did not know to comment. 21% had no fear but 5% felt embarrassed to participate in testing. Oniy 21% accepted it as a safe test. The association between the level of education and the knowledge of public health importance of cervical cancer was statistically significant (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge on cervical cancer and preventive methods are low amongst primigravid women. Attitude towards the Papanicolaou test is poor.