Folusho Mubowale Balogun

Pursuance of a Yoruba name for cervical cancer in Southwest Nigeria: a case study

Objectives Participants’ comprehension of research process affects the quality of research output, which is the reason why translation of research instruments into local languages is standard practice. Literature has consistently reported that in Africa, knowledge about cervical cancer is low but paradoxically, expressed, and actual uptake of human papillomavirus vaccine for its prevention is high. This study explored the Yoruba names of cervical cancer among Yoruba people in Ibadan, Nigeria to guide the translation of cervical cancer research instruments to Yoruba language. Design Exploratory case study design was used and data were obtained with 10 in-depth interviews and four focused group discussions. Data were analysed using content analysis. Settings The study took place in Ibadan North local government area, Southwest Nigeria. Participants These were 4 traditional healers, 3 Yoruba linguists, 3 public health educators and 38 parents of adolescents. Measures These were Yoruba names for cervical cancer and their meanings. Results Participants were aware of cervical cancer but only the traditional healers and public health educators had names for it. These names were highly varied. The public health educators gave names that were linked with different parts of the female reproductive system and external genital which were actually different medical conditions. Each traditional healer also had different names for cervical cancer, which either described the female body parts, or symptoms of female genital infections. These various names can lead to unnecessary misconceptions and misinformation about cervical cancer, its prevention, management, and research. Conclusions There was no consensus Yoruba name for cervical cancer among the study participants. Efforts to educate the Yoruba speaking populace about cervical cancer, its prevention, management and participation in its research can be frustrated if a generally accepted Yoruba name is not provided for this cancer. Stakeholders’ collaboration is required to get an appropriate Yoruba name for cervical cancer.

Stated preferences for human papillomavirus vaccination for adolescents in selected communities in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria: A discrete choice experiment

Administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in early adolescence is effective in preventing cervical cancer, a common cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is in the pre-introduction era of the HPV vaccine. Understanding the preferences of the population for the vaccine can help design the HPV immunization program to ensure high uptake of the vaccine. This study explored the preferences for the HPV vaccine among stakeholders in selected communities in Ibadan, Nigeria. A discrete choice experiment survey based on six attributes of the HPV vaccine (which were the number of doses, the efficacy of the vaccine, cost of the vaccine, location of the service point, other benefits of the vaccine apart from prevention of cervical cancer and the odds of a side effect from the vaccine) was carried out in five communities. Data were analyzed using conditional and mixed logit models. Seven hundred community members were recruited, 144 (20.7%) were adolescents and 248 (35.4%) were males. In line with expectations, respondents preferred vaccines with higher efficacy, less severe side effects and lower costs. Preference heterogeneity was identified for adolescents that were less price-sensitive and other community members who were less likely to prefer using schools as the service point. The high socioeconomic class preferred a vaccine that also prevents genital warts. There were variabilities in the preferences for the attributes of the HPV vaccine in the study communities. These variabilities need to be considered in the introduction of the HPV vaccine to ensure high uptake of the vaccine.