Uptake Of Cervical Cancer Screening Research Articles

Cervical cancer screening knowledge and associated factors among Eswatini women: A cross-sectional study.

Over recent years, cervical cancer incidence and related mortality have steadily increased in Eswatini. Low cervical cancer screening uptake partly explains the situation. Cervical cancer screening-related knowledge is positively associated with screening uptake. Little is known about women's cervical cancer screening-related knowledge in Eswatini. This study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening knowledge and associated factors among Eswatini women eligible for screening. A cross-sectional study involving three hundred and seventy-seven women aged 25 to 59 selected from four primary healthcare clinics in Eswatini was conducted. A paper and pen survey assessed knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, benefits of screening, the meaning of screening results, recommended screening intervals, and socio-demographics. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess participants' sociodemographic characteristics. Linear regression was applied to examine associations between cervical cancer screening-related knowledge and participants' sociodemographic characteristics. Two hundred and twenty-nine (61%) participants answered 80% or more knowledge questions correctly. Compared to HIV-positive participants, HIV-negative participants had 0.61 times lower cervical cancer screening knowledge scores (β = -0.39, 95% CI: -0.56, -0.19, p = 0.03). Participants who travelled more than 30 minutes to the clinic had 0.3 times lower cervical cancer screening knowledge scores (β = -0.70, 95% CI: -1.15, -0.25, p < 0.01) compared to participants who travelled less than 30 minutes to the clinic. Relatively high overall cervical cancer screening knowledge levels were observed among the study participants. Findings from the current study may inform future educational programs to create and sustain an accurate understanding of cervical cancer screening in Eswatini communities.

Influencing Elements Impacting the Participation in Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women of Childbearing Age at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda

This research aimed to gauge cervical cancer screening participation and its influencing factors among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH) in Eastern Uganda. Conducted from January to April 2021, the study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design, surveying 370 WRA through pretested semi-structured questionnaires. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, presenting outcomes through tables, frequencies, percentages, and logistic regression analyses. Among the 370 respondents, merely 24.3% (90 individuals) had undergone cervical cancer screening. Of these, 14.1% had one screening, 7.0% had two screenings, and 3.2% had been screened three or more times. The primary mode of screening (11%) occurred during medical camps. Regarding awareness, 89.7% had heard of cervical screening, predominantly through radio broadcasts (41.0%), with 41.4% recognizing its purpose and 52.4% acknowledging its role in early detection and treatment. Furthermore, 94.3% viewed cervical cancer screening as a beneficial practice, with 81.1% advocating for other women to undergo screening, while 90% believed in promoting this practice. Culturally and religiously, the acceptance of cervical cancer screening was widespread. Demographically, most respondents (66.5%) fell within the 15-30 age bracket, with the majority identifying as Anglicans (33.8%) and 88.9% being Ugandan nationals. Educational attainment was predominantly at the secondary (37.0%) and tertiary (39.2%) levels. Regression analysis indicated that being Anglican significantly influenced the uptake of cervical cancer screening [OR=2.219(1.039 – 3.899); 95% CI, P=0.038)]. Despite increased knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer screening’s purpose, treatment, and associated complications, uptake remains below desired levels. Notably, a substantial number of women did not seek screening due to the absence of signs or symptoms and lack of advice from medical professionals, exposing a gap in primary healthcare significance. The study underscores the need for heightened health education across healthcare platforms to emphasize the critical importance of cervical cancer screening and encourage more women to partake in this essential preventive practice. Keywords: Cancer, Women, Cervical cancer screening, Pap smear test

Examining Prevalence and Influential Factors of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women of Reproductive Age at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Fort Portal City

Globally, cervical cancer stands as a pressing health issue for women, ranking as the second most common cancer type among females worldwide. A study conducted at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Fort Portal City aimed to assess the prevalence and factors impacting the participation of women of reproductive age in cervical cancer screening tests. Employing a cross-sectional descriptive design with quantitative methods, the study utilized a consecutive sampling technique, surveying 96 respondents through self-administered questionnaires. Data analysis involved coding and entry via SPSS 20.1, with findings presented through tables, graphs, and pie charts. Results indicated that only a quarter of respondents (25%) had undergone cervical cancer screening, predominantly opting for Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) (58.3%). Notably, a significant proportion of screened individuals (66.7%) hailed from rural areas, and the majority (66.7%) had a parity of 3 or fewer children. Moreover, 58.3% of those screened reported earning more than 400,000 shs per month. Unexpectedly, reluctance accounted for 44.8% of respondents' reasons for not undergoing screening. In summary, despite free accessibility to the service, there's a notably low prevalence of cervical cancer screening. Reluctance and fear associated with the procedure emerged as significant barriers hindering the uptake of cervical cancer screening among the surveyed population. Keywords: Cervical cancer, Reproductive age, Mothers, Women, Human papillomavirus.

Knowledge, Attitude, And Factors Affecting Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Uptake Among Female Undergraduate Students In Public Tertiary Institutions In Lagos State Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Human Papillomavirus is responsible for about 99% of all cervical cancers. Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women from Low and middle-income countries. Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is an effective way to prevent the disease, however, uptake remains low in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and factors affecting Human papillomavirus vaccine uptake among female undergraduate students in public tertiary institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A multistage sampling method was used to select 355 female undergraduate students from Lagos State University and the University of Lagos. Data was gathered using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Epi info version 7 statistical software and Chi square was used to test for statistical significance. RESULTS: There were 355 respondents giving a response rate of 100%. The responders' average age was 23 years old. 63.4% and 61.3% had heard about cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening respectively. Only 27.6% had heard of Human Papilloma virus vaccine. While most of the respondents (53.8%) had poor overall knowledge of cervical cancer, majority had a positive attitude towards cervical cancer prevention and screening (80.8%). Only 1.1% of the respondents had received the HPV vaccine, and a lack of awareness about the vaccine was the most commonly reported barrier to uptake (64.7%). Also, only 3.7% had ever done a cervical cancer screening and the most commonly reported reason was “Fear of bad result”(31%). There was no association between overall knowledge of cervical cancer and uptake of cervical cancer screening (p=0.08). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, despite the positive attitude towards cervical cancer prevention and screening, HPV vaccine uptake remains low among young women in this population, and knowledge about the vaccine is lacking. Increasing awareness of the link between HPV and cervical cancer and promoting the vaccine as a safe and effective method of prevention, may help to increase uptake.

Knowledge and practice of cervical cancer prevention amongst undergraduates of the Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

Background: In Nigeria, approximately 26 women die daily due to cervical cancer. About 90% of cervical cancer cases are caused by human papillomavirus infection (HPV), transmitted through sexual intercourse and can be prevented. This study assessed knowledge of cervical cancer and practice of its preventive measures, among undergraduates in a University in South-South Nigeria.Material and Methods: his study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among 479 students of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Nigeria. Respondents were selected across Faculties through a multistage sampling technique and data was collected using a pretested self-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science version 23 with statistical significance set at p&lt;0.05.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 20.4 (±2.4) years. The majority of the respondents (85.0%) had a poor level of knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention methods. Age (p&lt;0.001), study level (P&lt;0.001), and faculty (&lt;0.001) were significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention. About 59.0% of respondents have an overall positive attitude towards cervical cancer and its prevention. The level of uptake of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination was 0.8% and 1.3% respectively, however, more than half of the respondents were willing to get screened (63.9%) and vaccinated (50.9%).Conclusion: The institution should organize and sponsor comprehensive health education programmes about cervical cancer and its prevention. Provision of screening and vaccination at subsidized rates or at no cost will provide widespread coverage of prevention both in local communities and among students.

Abstract C106: Association between cancer risk perception and patient-centered communication and cervical cancer screening behavior among African Americans (AA) and Sub-Saharan African immigrant (SAI) women

Abstract Background- Black women in the US have disproportionately higher mortality and shortest survival than any ethnic or racial group for cervical cancer. Many factors contribute to the elevated cancer burden, including cancer risk perceptions and knowledge as well as patient centered communication behaviors that may influence cervical cancer screening uptake. Misperceptions of cancer risk and limited knowledge may decrease the use of preventive cancer screening. In addition, patients who encounter clinicians who practice communication not reflective of patient-centeredness may be less likely to participate in regular cancer screening. The aim of this study was to determine if cervical screening uptake among Black women was associated with cancer risk perceptions and knowledge and clinician communication behavior. Methods- We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Black women (African Americans (AA) and sub-Saharan African (SAI) recruited from Lexington, KY and surrounding towns. Data included sociodemographics, measures of cancer perceptions, and patient-centered communication. The chi-squared test of association and multiple linear regression were used to assess the unadjusted and adjusted associations among cancer risk perceptions and knowledge, patient-centered communication, and receipt of pap test. Data analysis was conducted using SAS, version 9.4 with an alpha of .05. Results- In the sample of 116 Black women who were age appropriate for pap screening (n = 48 SAI; n = 68 AA), nearly two-thirds had received a pap test (63%) in concordance with guidelines. Compared to those who had not had a pap, women who had received a pap test endorsed the statement ‘it seems like everything causes cancer (p=.006),’ while fewer agreed ‘when I think about cancer, I automatically think about death (p&amp;lt;.001)’. Both responses remained significant after adjusting for age, ethnicity, health insurance status and having a primary care provider. A higher proportion of women agreed with the six patient-centered communication items in the bivariate analysis, and remained significant in the adjusted modeling for the responses to the following three items: 1) During the past 12 months, how often did doctors, nurses, or other health professionals give you the chance to ask all the health-related questions you had?; 2) In the past 12 months, how often did you feel you could rely on doctors, nurses, or other health professionals to take care of your health care needs?; and 3) During the past 12 months, how often did doctors, nurses, or other health professionals make sure you understood the things you needed to do to take care of your health? Conclusion- Evaluation of cancer risk perceptions and patient-centered communication provide useful guidance for the development of interventions for Black women. Future research should target Black women that have misperceptions of cancer risk and limited knowledge for cervical cancer awareness. Clinicians should practice communication reflective of patient-centeredness to promote cervical cancer screening behavior. Citation Format: Adebola Adegboyega, Amanda Wiggins, Mark Dignan. Association between cancer risk perception and patient-centered communication and cervical cancer screening behavior among African Americans (AA) and Sub-Saharan African immigrant (SAI) women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C106.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine HIV care and cervical cancer screening in North-Central Nigeria

IntroductionCervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer among women globally, with much of the burden being carried by women in limited-resource settings often worsened by the high prevalence of HIV. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted organized screening efforts and HIV management regimens worldwide, and the impact of these disruptions have not been examined in these settings. The purpose of this paper is to describe whether uptake of cervical cancer screening and HIV management changed before, during, and since the COVID-19 pandemic in North-Central Nigeria.MethodsLongitudinal healthcare administration data for women who obtained care between January 2018 and December 2021 were abstracted from the AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria (APIN) clinic at Jos University Teaching Hospital. Patient demographics, pap smear outcomes, and HIV management indicators such as viral load and treatment regimen were abstracted and assessed using descriptive and regression analyses. All analyses were conducted comparing two years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the four quarters in 2020, and the year following COVID-19 restrictions.ResultsWe included 2304 women in the study, most of whom were between 44 and 47 years of age, were married, and had completed secondary education. About 85% of women were treated with first line highly active retroviral therapy (HAART). Additionally, 84% of women screened using pap smear had normal results. The average age of women who sought care at APIN was significantly lower in Quarter 3, 2020 (p = 0.015) compared to the other periods examined in this study. Conversely, the average viral load for women who sought care during that period was significantly higher in adjusted models (p < 0.0001). Finally, we determined that the average viral load at each clinic visit was significantly associated with the period in which women sought care.ConclusionsOverall, we found that COVID-19 pandemic mitigation efforts significantly influenced women’s ability to obtain cervical cancer screening and routine HIV management at APIN clinic. This study buttresses the challenges in accessing routine and preventive care during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in low-resource settings. Further research is needed to determine how these disruptions to care may influence long-term health in this and similar at-risk populations.

Interpersonal Communication Barriers to Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Interpersonal Communication Barriers to Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Utilization of Interpersonal Communication Channels in the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya

Utilization of Interpersonal Communication Channels in the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya

Estimated US Cancer Deaths Prevented With Increased Use of Lung, Colorectal, Breast, and Cervical Cancer Screening

Increased use of recommended screening could help achieve the Cancer Moonshot goal of reducing US cancer deaths. To estimate the number of cancer deaths that could be prevented with a 10-percentage point increase in the use of US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)-recommended screening. This decision analytical model study is an extension of previous studies conducted for the USPSTF from 2018 to 2023. This study simulated contemporary cohorts of US adults eligible for lung, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening. Annual low-dose computed lung tomography among eligible adults aged 50 to 80 years; colonoscopy every 10 years among adults aged 45 to 75 years; biennial mammography among female adults aged 40 to 74 years; and triennial cervical cytology screening among female adults aged 21 to 29 years, followed by human papillomavirus testing every 5 years from ages 30 to 65 years. Estimated number of cancer deaths prevented with a 10-percentage point increase in screening use, assuming screening commences at the USPSTF-recommended starting age and continues throughout the lifetime. Outcomes were presented 2 ways: (1) per 100 000 and (2) among US adults in 2021; and they were expressed among the target population at the age of screening initiation. For lung cancer, estimates were among those who will also meet the smoking eligibility criteria during their lifetime. Harms from increased uptake were also reported. A 10-percentage point increase in screening use at the age that USPSTF recommended screening commences was estimated to prevent 226 lung cancer deaths (range across models within the cancer site, 133-332 deaths), 283 (range, 263-313) colorectal cancer deaths, 82 (range, 61-106) breast cancer deaths, and 81 (1 model; no range available) cervical cancer deaths over the lifetimes of 100 000 persons eligible for screening. These rates corresponded with an estimated 1010 (range, 590-1480) lung cancer deaths prevented, 11 070 (range, 10 280-12 250) colorectal cancer deaths prevented, 1790 (range, 1330-2310) breast cancer deaths prevented, and 1710 (no range available) cervical cancer deaths prevented over the lifetimes of eligible US residents at the recommended age to initiate screening in 2021. Increased uptake was also estimated to generate harms, including 100 000 (range, 45 000-159 000) false-positive lung scans, 6000 (range, 6000-7000) colonoscopy complications, 300 000 (range, 295 000-302 000) false-positive mammograms, and 348 000 (no range available) colposcopies over the lifetime. In this decision analytical model study, a 10-percentage point increase in uptake of USPSTF-recommended lung, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening at the recommended starting age was estimated to yield important reductions in cancer deaths. Achieving these reductions is predicated on ensuring equitable access to screening.

Cervical Cancer Prevention in Rural Areas.

Globally, cervical cancer (CC) incidence is higher in rural areas than in urban areas that could be explained by the influence of many factors, including inequity in accessibility of the CC prevention measures. This review aimed to identify and analyze factors associated with a lack of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination programs in people living in rural areas and to outline strategies to mitigate these factors. The literature search encompassed two focal domains: cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination among populations residing in rural areas, covering publications between January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2021 in the PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cyberleninka databases, available in both English and Russian languages. A literature review identified 22 sources on cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination in rural and remote areas. These sources revealed similar obstacles to screening and vaccination in both high and low-income countries, such as low awareness and knowledge about CC, screening, and HPV vaccination among rural residents; limited accessibility due to remoteness and dearth of medical facilities and practitioners, associated with a decrease in recommendations from them, and financial constraints, necessitating out-of-pocket expenses. The reviewed sources analyzed strategies to mitigate the outlined challenges. Possible solutions include the introduction of tailored screening and vaccination campaigns designed for residents of rural and remote locations. New screening and vaccination sites have been proposed to overcome geographic barriers. Integrating HPV testing-based CC screening is suggested to counter the lack of healthcare personnel. HPV vaccination is essential for primary cervical cancer prevention, especially in rural and remote areas, as it requires less medical infrastructure. Certain measures can be proposed to improve the uptake of CC screening and HPV vaccination programs among rural residents, which are needed to address the higher prevalence of CC in rural areas. Further investigation into cervical cancer prevention in rural and remote contexts is necessary to ascertain the optimal strategies that promote health equity.

Using a participatory approach to encourage uptake of breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening for Scottish Muslim women: a pilot qualitative study

BackgroundMuslim women use cancer screening less often than the general female population, which puts them at risk of delayed detection. We used an asset-based approach to co-design a faith-based intervention to increase uptake of breast, colorectal, and cervical screening in Scottish Muslim women. MethodsIn this pilot qualitative study, we recruited Muslim women (n=28) of Asian and Arab ethnicity, aged 25–74 years, through snowball sampling from community organisations in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Ten of these women participated in four online workshops in February, 2021, with the aim to codesign the intervention, underpinned by the socio-ecological model and the behaviour change wheel. The final intervention included health education delivered by doctors, testimonials by Muslim women sharing experiences of cancer or screening, and the perspective on cancer screening from a female religious scholar. The intervention was delivered to two groups of eight and ten Muslim women respectively, in March 2021. A week later, the 18 women participated in two focus groups to qualitatively evaluate the intervention. Analyses were conducted thematically. FindingsThemes included barriers to screening, acceptability of content and delivery, attitudinal change, and intervention improvement. Participants believed that lack of awareness was an important barrier to screening. They found the intervention informative. They particularly liked the combination of multiple components, including spirituality, culture, and health education. They valued the faith-based element and highlighted how Islam could facilitate overcoming cultural barriers including social stigma, embarrassment, and modesty, although this could vary with different levels of religiosity. Participants also emphasised that faith-based approaches in isolation would not be enough. They appreciated input of trusted sources such as doctors and religious scholars and were especially drawn to personal narratives. Participants expressed preference for face-to-face delivery and advised using translators to overcome language barriers. InterpretationBarriers to screening are complex. Using faith as an asset, integrated with the socio-ecological model and behaviour change wheel, resulted in a holistic intervention tackling multiple barriers, which appealed to participants. Collaborating with communities and faith leaders can help to develop culturally sensitive interventions that harness positive aspects of faith for better health outcomes. Intervention effectiveness needs more robust investigation, which we are undertaking in a feasibility study with 200 Muslim women in northeast England and Scotland. FundingScottish Inequalities Fund, the Scottish Government.

Cervical cancer screening uptake and associated factors among Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in public hospitals, eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundCervical cancer, the second leading cancer in Ethiopia women, is six times higher among women infected with the Human Immune Virus 1-infected women. Its screening provides protective advantages, and is linked to a decrease in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer and mortality. Although cancer screening has great advantages for early treatment and prevention of further complications, cervical cancer screening uptake is low among women in developing countries. Cervical cancer screening uptake among Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (WLHIV) is not well known in Eastern Ethiopia. Thus, we aimed to assess cervical cancer screening uptake and its associated factors among WLHIV in public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 412 randomly selected HIV-positive women from March 20 to April 20, 2022. The results of the study were presented descriptively in percentages and analytically in odds ratio. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the presence and degree of association between dependent and independent variables. In the multivariable logistic analysis, a p-value of 0.05, and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were considered to determine independent predictors for the uptake of cervical cancer screening.ResultsCervical cancer screening uptake among WLHIV was 57.5% (95% CI: 52.5, 62.9%). The uptake of cervical cancer screening was significantly associated with age between 20-29 years (AOR = 7.33; 95% CI: 1.98, 27.1), 40-49 years (AOR = 4.37; 95% CI: 1.48, 12.89), tertiary level of education (AOR = 0.197; 95% CI: 0.041, 0.946), good knowledge (AOR = 3.591; 95% CI: 2.123, 6.073), and monthly income of 2501(45.52 $) and above Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 0.389; 95% CI: 0.158, 0.959).ConclusionsMore than half of the participants had undergone cervical cancer screening. Age, marital status, educational status, monthly income, and awareness of cancer screening uptake were all factors related to cervical cancer screening. To maximize uptake, it is necessary to create specific counseling and education programs that target HIV-positive women.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Preventive Cervical Cancer Screening Behavior.

To examine associations between a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and receiving preventive cervical cancer screening and to investigate whether number and type of ACE exposures were predictive of cervical cancer screening uptake. Data were from 11,042 adults who completed the 2020 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines were used to indicate whether individuals had received cervical cancer screening at recommended intervals. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to predict the likelihood of not having received the recommended preventive cancer screening by number and type of ACE exposures. Chi-square analysis was used to determine associations among demographic characteristics, cancer screening uptake, and ACE number and type. Individuals with one to three ACEs and those with six or more ACEs were statistically more likely not to have received the recommended cervical cancer screenings compared to those with zero ACEs. A history of physical ACEs was associated with 3.88 times the likelihood of not having received the recommended cervical cancer screening. To promote timely cervical cancer screening and prevent retraumatization of patients with a history of ACEs, providers should implement trauma-informed care principles in their healthcare settings.

Health technologies as innovative tools to prevent cervical cancer in low -and-middle income countries

Introduction: Cervical cancer's mortality and morbidity, as well as the prospect of effective screening-based prevention, make it a critical area of intervention attention. By engaging social support groups in health education, participation in cervical c cancer screening and early diagnosis of the illness in the community is enhanced. In the continuous efforts to enhance cervical cancer prevention, control, and management, technology, and digital health will play a significant role. As a result of mHealth educational activities in this region, knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors, warning signs and symptoms, and information on HPV vaccination improved. By boosting screening rates, raising awareness, and encouraging early diagnosis, mHealth methods can help reduce the symptoms of cervical cancer. These initiatives use mobile technology to give targeted and individualized information, reminders, and support, allowing individuals to be proactive in cervical cancer prevention and screening. Objective: This study shows that e-health interventions can improve cervical cancer screening awareness, intention, and uptake. It indicates that electronics may be used to reach out to poor and medium-income countries as well as minority populations all around the world. Conclusion: The mobile health age has shown promising promise for more efficient health care delivery throughout the world. The term "mobile" connotes the freedom and flexibility to complete any work, anywhere and at any time, as it may be utilized to prevent cervical cancer in women by raising public awareness about Pap smear screening. It is critical to stress that the use of health technology in cervical cancer screening programs should be accompanied by suitable infrastructure, training, and supporting policies to enable long-term sustainability and equal access to services.

Community Health Needs Assessment on Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake among Women of Reproductive Age in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State

Introduction: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer contributing to high mortality and morbidity all over the world. However, early diagnosis with screening has been linked with good prognosis but different factors have been implicated in the poor uptake. Hence, a community health needs assessment about cervical cancer screening uptake among women of reproductive age in Ijero Local Government Area (LGA) of Ekiti State Nigeria was carried out.&#x0D; Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used using a purposive sampling technique to administer a self-structured questionnaire to 132 respondents at the Ijero Local Government Council Secretariat, Ijero-Ekiti. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23. Results were presented in tables and figures.&#x0D; Results: The majority (85.5%) of the respondents were Christians. 72.5% were married. The vast majority (98.1) have heard about cervical cancer screening before but only 12.6% of the respondents had good knowledge about it. The utilization rate was found to be low (26.1%). Not knowing the test location (69.4%), finance (82.9%), lack of proximity (91.9%), not considering self as at risk (81.2%), and not having complaints about the cervix (90.9) were the main factors influence the utilization of the screening process.&#x0D; Conclusion: Knowledge and the utilization of women of reproductive age in Ijero LGA of Ekiti State is still poor. Healthcare workers and the government of the Ekiti State should ensure that the women of reproductive age are well equipped with the needed knowledge in order to make informed choices about their health.

Intervention recommendations to improve uptake of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among individuals living with serious mental illness.

Few efforts have been made to inform intervention design for increasing the uptake of cancer screening in individuals living with serious mental illness (ILSMI), who have lower cancer screening rates than the general population. This qualitative study explored ILSMI's and their care team member's (CTM) recommendations on the design of a breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening intervention for ILSMI. Twenty-five ILSMI (mean age: 71.4years; 60% female) and 15 CTM (mean age: 45.3years; 80% female) were recruited through purposive sampling.Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to collect participants' intervention suggestions. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and imported into NVivo. Content analysis and the constant comparison method were used to analyze interview data. ILSMI and CTMs provided several salient recommendations. ILSMI should receive disease-specific, logistical, and screening education, and primary care staff should receive education on psychopathology. Mental health providers and patient navigators should be considered as the primary interventionist. The intervention should be delivered where ILSMI receive medical or mental health services, receive community and government services, and/or via various digital media. The intervention should improve the collaboration, communication, and coordination between primary and mental health care. Findings also pointed to the implementation of trauma-informed cancer care and integrated care models comprising mental health care and primary cancer care. These findings bring the skills, knowledge, and expertise of ILSM and their care team to intervention design for increasing colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening in ILSMI attending an intensive outpatient program.

Women and health providers' perspectives on male support for cervical cancer screening in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe.

Several studies have shown that male involvement increases the uptake of sexual and reproductive health programmes for improved family health outcomes. The role of men in reducing the burden of cervical cancer has however not been researched in Zimbabwe. It is for this reason that this study explores male support for cervical cancer screening programmes from the perspective of women and health providers in the Gwanda district of Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach that engaged thirty-six women aged 25-50 years in focus group discussions, and twenty-five health providers with different roles in the cervical cancer screening programme in in-depth interviews was used to determine their perspectives on male support for cervical cancer screening. Data were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti Computer Assisted Qualitative data analysis software. Key findings reflected that men lacked knowledge on cervical cancer and its risk factors and prevention. Subsequently, they engaged in sexual behaviours that increased their partners' risk of acquiring Human Papillomavirus infection, the virtually necessary cause of cervical cancer. Furthermore, men did not provide the necessary emotional and financial support for their women to access screening and treatment. Participants were optimistic that innovative awareness creation strategies and intense, sustained cervical cancer education efforts targeting men could increase male partner support. Involvement of community leaders was seen as crucial in the facilitation of male involvement for programme acceptance and improved uptake of cervical cancer screening. Male involvement is seen as an integral component of the cervical cancer prevention and control programme that has to be implemented in Gwanda district to minimise male partner-related barriers to cervical cancer screening. Further research focusing on men is required to identify specific knowledge gaps that would enable development of appropriate strategies that best involve men in cervical cancer prevention and control interventions.

Women’s and health professionals’ perceptions, beliefs and barriers to cervical cancer screening uptake in Southern Ethiopia: a qualitative study

Cervical cancer remains a public health problem worldwide. Screening for cervical cancer is poorly implemented in resource-limited settings. In Ethiopia, evidence from the community and health professionals regarding implementation of the screening programme is lacking. The objective of this study was to explore women’s and health professionals’ perceptions, beliefs, and barriers in relation to cervical screening in Southern Ethiopia. Five focus group discussions among women and six key informant interviews with health professionals were conducted from June to July 2022 to gather the required data from a total of 42 participants. The participants were purposively selected from a diverse group to ensure varied viewpoints. Data were collected through group discussions and face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview sessions were tape-recorded. The data were analysed using a thematic approach. Women demonstrated a low level of awareness and perceived risk. Also, the perceived benefit of screening for cervical cancer during healthy periods was low. Individual and system-level barriers to screening include low awareness, stigma, poor perceptions towards health screening and causes of cervical cancer, low risk perception and competing domestic priorities, shortage of trained human and other resources, human resource turnover, low implementation and lack of close follow-up of screening programmes. In summary, lack of awareness, misconceptions, and poor perceptions were common. Screening implementation and uptake were low due to individual, psychosocial, and system-related barriers. Therefore, behavioural change communication and system-strengthening efforts need to be in place to effectively tackle the observed gaps.

Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening among Sub-Saharan African Immigrant Women in the United States: A Qualitative Report

Objective: Cervical cancer screening can prevent women across all age groups from developing cervical cancer (CC). However, Sub-Saharan African immigrant women (SAIW) sparsely engage in routine CC screening. Thus, developing prevention strategies to improve SAIW’s adherence to recommended CC screening guidelines is critical. To ensure that such strategies are successful, they must meet the needs of the target population. By conducting qualitative interviews with SAIW (N = 15), we aimed to get a deeper understanding of barriers to CC screening receipt. Methods: We asked SAIW about barriers to CC screening and possible ideas to facilitate their future screening behavior. Results: Our findings revealed that SAIW are especially affected by several major barriers: lack of awareness of CC guidelines, fear/fatalism, lack of resources (eg, a lack of time due to job and family commitment), other resource-related barriers (eg, unreliable mode of transport, and no health insurance), modesty, and overt bias. Participants indicated a preference for female healthcare providers for CC screening and suggested spousal involvement in CC intervention development to foster support. Conclusion: The identification of multi-level barriers indicates that multiple strategies are needed to improve the uptake of CC screening among SAIW.