Abstract 54: A Comprehensive Survey to Identify Barriers to and Facilitators of Cervical Cancer Screening in Women With HIV in Guangxi, China

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To assess perceived barriers to and facilitators of cervical cancer screening in women with HIV in Guangxi, China. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we administered a survey among women with HIV aged 21-65 years from August to October 2019 in Guangxi, China. A 100-item survey was developed in English and translated into Chinese. Age criterion was concordant with the cervical cancer screening recommendations. We assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening, identified potential barriers to and facilitators of cervical cancer screening programs for women with HIV, and assessed potential risk factors for cervical cancer. We conducted descriptive data analyses with the collected responses. Results: A total of 101 participants, on average 39.5 years old (IQR: 34.5-44 years old), completed the survey. The mean CD4 cell count was 705 cell/µl (IQR: 493-854 cell/µl). 47% of the women had been screened for cervical cancer at least once. The mean score was 5.6 out of 9 (95% CI 5.3-6.0) on the knowledge about cervical cancer and its screening and 6.3 out of 10 (95% CI 5.9-6.6) on cervical cancer risk factors, respectively. 84% of women agreed that cervical cancer is a life-threatening disease, but only 49% agreed that they were at risk for cervical cancer. Facilitators of participating in future cervical cancer screening among women with HIV in Guangxi included family support for related healthcare, trust and openness to conversations with health workers on female health concerns, and convenient transportation. The barriers included knowledge gaps in health awareness, cervical-cancer-related information, and available cervical cancer screening services. Conclusion: Women with HIV in Guangxi are potentially under-screened for cervical cancer. Designing future cervical cancer screening programs targeting women with HIV in Guangxi should address the knowledge gaps to increase screening uptake and improve outcomes in this high-risk population. Citation Format: Ran Zhao, Shujia Liang, Deanna Teoh, Yunqing Fei, Xianwu Pang, Shalini Kulasingam. A Comprehensive Survey to Identify Barriers to and Facilitators of Cervical Cancer Screening in Women With HIV in Guangxi, China [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 9th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Global Cancer Research and Control: Looking Back and Charting a Path Forward; 2021 Mar 10-11. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021;30(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 54.