| CRCAH Project No: CD106 |
|
Administering Organisation:
Menzies School of Health Research
Project Leader:
Professor
Suzanne Garland
Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne
Contact Details:
Suzanne.Garland@rch.org.au
Program Manager:
Arwen
Pratt,
Chronic
Conditions program
Partners Involved:
-
Royal Women’s Hospital
Melbourne, VIC
-
Menzies School of Health
Research, NT
-
Danila Dilba Aboriginal
Medical Services, NT
-
NT Department of Health and
Community Services
-
National Centre for
Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The University of Sydney
and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW
-
Division of Microbiology and
Infectious Diseases, PathCentre (The Western Australian Centre for
Pathology & Medical Research), WA
-
Kimberley Population Health
Unit, Kimberley Health Region, Broome, WA
-
Townsville Aboriginal and
Islanders Health Services (TAIHS), QLD
-
Aboriginal Medical Services in
Victoria, NSW, Western Australia and the Northern
Territory
-
CRCAH
|
Project summary:
The human papillomavirus (HPV)
is the most common viral sexually transmitted infection. The
formulation of appropriate recommendations for use of prophylactic
HPV vaccines in Australia requires data on the pattern of HPV
infection by age and Indigenous status and which is generalisable
at the population level. This will be useful pre-vaccine rollout to
ultimately measure the vaccine effectiveness, including the use of
disease modelling to estimate likely vaccine impacts.
The pilot study focused on two
communities, one remote Indigenous community and one urban
Indigenous community, to test and refine information, training
materials and data collection processes in consultation with
primary health care staff and community members. Preliminary work
was required to undertake further consultations with Aboriginal
Medical Services and other Indigenous health organizations, to
develop information materials to inform Indigenous women about HPV
infection and the proposed research study, and to develop clinical
guidelines for health care providers and for women who are found to
have an HPV infection with a cancer-causing genotype.
There were several funding bodies (including the CRCAH) for this
study to support the development of information materials and to
support the Indigenous steering committee. The pilot study was the
first-stage of a wider project that has sites in Queensland,
Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales
and Tasmania.
Summary of projected outcomes:
Results of this pilot study were used in modeling
of the vaccination impact of HPV vaccines in the Australian
population. Information obtained was useful in estimating the
likely impact of vaccination against HPV infection in Australia,
especially those at high risk of cervical cancer (ICC). In the
longer term, the study will provide essential baseline information
on types of HPV affecting Australian women over time, important in
evaluating the impact of a vaccination program.
Timelines:
This pilot study for
the project was carried out from 2004 to 2007.
Project Publications:
A final report is currently in development and will be available
in 2008.
Related Links:
Investigating cross-cultural
responses to the introduction of the Human papillomavirus [HPV]
vaccine (Margaret Heffernan, Student)
Return to Research
Projects List
[Page last updated 11 July 2008]
