Hpv Vaccination Research Paper

There are 4 levels of prevention namely primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.

One of the primary prevention strategies will be vaccination programs. The National HPV Vaccination Program is introduced in Australia since 2007. It provides free HPV vaccination for all males and females from 12-13 years old. (3) Parental or guardians consent is required for the child’s participation in the vaccination program. The HPV vaccine is given as three injections over a period of six months. Completion of the full course is essential for maximal protection. Currently, the HPV vaccine avilable in Australia are Gardasil and Cervarix. Gardasil protects against HPV type 16, 18, 6 and 11, while Cervarix protects against type 16 and 18. Since

HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer, vaccination will reduce risk of the infection, preventing onset of the condition. The nation-wide vaccination program will induce herd immunity, reducing the number of HPV carriers, improving future health prospect of the population.

Other primary prevention strategies include educational campaigns which aim to raise awareness of cervical cancer, encourage regular Pap test and discourage unsafe behaviour.

Papanicolaou test, Pap test for short, constitutes secondary prevention. (4) Pap test is recommended for all women who are sexually active. It is primarily used for early detection of precancerous lesions, allowing early interventions and hence prevention of cervical cancer. In Australia, National Cervical Screening program is introduced in 1991. Under the program, free pap test is offered every two years for eligible women from age 18-70. The national screening program is effective in reducing incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.

If abnormalities are found on Pap test, the abnormal mass could be removed or destroyed via loop electrosurgical procedures, cone biopsy, cryosurgery or laser surgery. These surgical interventions, are a form of secondary or tertiary preventitive strategy. Treatment and surgical excision to remove precancerous lesions are secondary prevention whereas approaches to manage cancerous growth constitute tertiary prevention. Surgical interventions are effective in removing pre-cancers and cancerous growths, preventing them from developing into malignant tumour or metastasizing elsewhere. In some rare cases, trachelectomy and hysterectomy is performed, where the entire cervix is removed. Surgery is comonly followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy to target the remaining cancer cells that failed to be excised. When the disease can no longer be cure, palliative care is provided to reduce symptoms and improve quality of

life.