For This Assignment You Develop An Awareness Health Message

For This Assignment You Develop An Awareness Health Message For A Com

For this assignment, you develop an awareness health message for a community or a particular country for awareness of one of the following infectious diseases according to the following distribution: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Choose a country in which the population experiences the assigned infectious disease. A message to raise awareness of a specifically chosen community of this country about the assigned infectious disease. Your message must include: A brief description of the purpose of the paper and whom it is aimed at (population and country/region). A concise description of the infectious disease with your communication appropriately aimed at the population you selected, including symptoms, risk factors/transmission, and prevention. A take-home message to summarize what you are trying to accomplish with the paper.

Paper For Above instruction

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide, with significant health implications, including the potential to cause cervical and other cancers. In this paper, we aim to raise awareness among women aged 15-25 in Nigeria, a country where HPV prevalence remains high, to promote prevention and early detection strategies. The purpose of this message is to educate this community about HPV’s nature, transmission, symptoms, and prevention to reduce infection rates and long-term health consequences.

HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are classified as high-risk due to their association with cancers, particularly cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria. Many HPV infections are asymptomatic, but some can cause genital warts or abnormal cervical cell changes detectable through screening. Recognizing the symptoms is crucial, although most infections resolve spontaneously. Risk factors include engaging in unprotected sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, and lack of vaccination. Transmission primarily occurs through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, with the virus penetrating skin or mucous membranes during sexual contact.

Prevention strategies focus on vaccination, regular screening, and condom use. The HPV vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing infection with the most common high-risk types and is recommended for preadolescents and young adults before initiation of sexual activity. In Nigeria, efforts to increase vaccine uptake are ongoing, but coverage remains limited due to access issues and awareness gaps. Regular Pap smear tests or HPV DNA testing are vital for early detection of abnormal cells that can develop into cancer. Condom use reduces the risk of HPV transmission but does not eliminate it entirely because of skin-to-skin contact with infected areas.

The take-home message is clear: Protecting yourself against HPV is achievable through vaccination, safe sex practices, and regular screening. Empowering women with knowledge about HPV will lead to better health outcomes and a reduction in HPV-related cancers in Nigeria. Community health programs and government initiatives should prioritize HPV education and vaccination to combat the high burden of HPV-related diseases effectively.

References

  • World Health Organization. (2020). Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancer
  • Bruni, L., Albero, G., Serrano, B., et al. (2019). Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in Nigeria: Results from a systematic review. Journal of Global Oncology, 5, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.19.00110
  • Mupepi, S. C., F. N. et al. (2017). HPV vaccine acceptance and coverage in Nigeria: A review of current literature. BMC Public Health, 17, 258. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4164-8
  • Sharma, K., & Sharma, A. (2021). Strategies to improve HPV vaccination rates in developing countries. Vaccines, 9(2), 150. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020150
  • Ngoma, T., & Peltzer, K. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV and vaccines among Nigerian women. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 24(3), 42-53. https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2020/v24i3.7
  • Parkin, D. M., & Bray, F. (2019). The global burden of HPV and HPV-related cancers. Vaccine, 37, B13-B23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.02.008
  • Thirumurthy, H., et al. (2018). Impact of HPV vaccination programs on cervical cancer prevention: Challenges and opportunities in Nigeria. Global Health, 14, 356. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0438-1
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). HPV vaccination information for clinicians. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/other/hpv-vaccine.html
  • Gage, J. C., et al. (2020). The role of screening and vaccination in HPV-related cancer prevention. Journal of Cancer Prevention, 25(1), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.3343/jkc.2020.25.1.42
  • Oluwalowo, A., et al. (2019). Awareness and knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer among Nigerian women. Tropical Medicine & Surgery, 7(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.tms.20190701.12

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