Abstract
BackgroundUganda has one of the highest burdens of cervical cancer globally. In 2010 the Ugandan Ministry of Health launched the Strategic Plan for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control with the hope of developing cervical cancer policy in Uganda. This study explored the beliefs of senior key informants in Uganda about cervical cancer prevention, the control programme, and the relevance of cervical cancer policy.MethodsWe conducted 15 key informant interviews with participants from six organisations across Northern and Central Uganda. Participants were drawn from district local government health departments, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Council, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Ministry of Health in Kampala, Uganda. The interview recordings were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsSeven themes emerged relating to the cervical cancer prevention and control programmes in Uganda: (1) policy frameworks for cervical cancer, (2) operationalising cervical cancer prevention and control, (3) financial allocation and alignment, (4) human resources and capability, (5) essential supplies and vaccines, (6) administrative data and resource distribution, and (7) cervical cancer services.ConclusionsThe key informants perceive that the lack of a cervical cancer policy in Uganda is hindering cervical cancer prevention and control programmes. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and stakeholders need to work together in coming up with an effective policy framework that will accelerate efforts towards cervical cancer prevention and control in Uganda.
Highlights
Uganda has one of the highest burdens of cervical cancer globally
The cervical cancer incidence fell by 33% both in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia while mortality fell by 36% in both countries over a period of 6 years [5]
The same can be said on cervical cancer screening in which only about 20% of women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who have ever been screened for cervical cancer compared with 60% of women in developed countries [12]
Summary
In 2010 the Ugandan Ministry of Health launched the Strategic Plan for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control with the hope of developing cervical cancer policy in Uganda. This study explored the beliefs of senior key informants in Uganda about cervical cancer prevention, the control programme, and the relevance of cervical cancer policy. In the absence of cervical cancer policy, SSA countries face substantial challenges in the prioritisation, coordination and implementation of cervical cancer prevention and controls programmes. The World Health Organization recommends screening of women between the age of 30–49 years every 3 to 5 years and in countries where population based screening for cervical cancer has been implemented, there has been remarkable decline in mortality due to cervical cancer [13]
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