Mother–Child Approach to Cervical Cancer Prevention in a Low Resource Setting: The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services Story †

INTRODUCTION: The rates of cervical cancer screening in Cameroon are unknown and HPV vaccination coverage for age-appropriate youths is reported at 5%. OBJECTIVES: To implement the mother-child approach to cervical cancer prevention (cervical screening by HPV testing for mothers and HPV vaccination for daughters) in Meskine, Far North, Cameroon. METHODS: After the sensitization of the Meskine-Maroua region using education and a press-release by the Minister of Public Health, a 5-day mother-child campaign took place at Meskine Baptist Hospital. The Ampfire HPV Testing was free for 500 women and vaccination was free for age-appropriate children through the EPI program. Nurses trained in cervical cancer education conducted group teaching sessions prior to having each woman retrieve a personal sample. Self-collected samples were analyzed for HPV the same day. All women with positive tests were assessed using VIA-VILI and treated as appropriate for precancers. RESULTS: 505 women were screened, and 92 children vaccinated (34 boys and 58 girls). Of those screened, 401 (79.4%) were aged 30-49 years old; 415 (82%) married; 348 (69%) no education. Of the HPV positive cases (101): 9 (5.9%) were HPV 16, 11 (10.1%) HPV 18, 74 (73%) HPV of 13 other types. Those who were both HPV and VIA-VILI positive were treated by thermal ablation (63%) or LEEP (25%). CONCLUSION: The mother-child approach is an excellent method to maximize primary and secondary prevention against cervical cancer.