Conference abstract
Facilitators and barriers to uptake of cervical cancer screening: a qualitative study of women living with the human immunodeficiency virus in Tanzania
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2024:21(44).29
Apr 2024.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2024.21.44.2373
Archived on: 29 Apr 2024
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Cervical cancer, screening, HIV, barriers
Oral presentation
Facilitators and barriers to uptake of cervical cancer screening: a qualitative study of women living with the human immunodeficiency virus in Tanzania
Sonia Joseph Kabika1,&, Amani Kikula1,2,3, Manase Kilonzi4, Vincent Tarimo1,5
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, 3Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium, 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Muhimbili National Hospital, P. O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
&Corresponding author
Introduction: cervical cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and leading cause of cancer death in women in Sub-Saharan Africa, and East Africa is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Globally, an estimated 5% of all cervical cancer cases are attributable to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening for women living with HIV are substantially crucial to reducing the burden of HIV attributed to cervical cancer in the future. This study explored facilitators and barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected women.
Methods: an exploratory qualitative study was conducted from November 2022 to January 2023 at Muhimbili National Hospital, involving 32 participants. Participants were recruited by purposive sampling, and data was collected using open-ended questions for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The interview guide contained information on social demographic characteristics, knowledge of the cervical disease, perceptions, facilitators, and barriers towards cervical cancer screening uptake. Data were transcribed and analyzed manually by using a thematic approach.
Results: the coded texts generated six themes with several subthemes in each theme. The results showed that facilitators towards screening include individual factors that are good knowledge of cervical cancer, good health-seeking behavior, and positive perception of cervical cancer. Also, spouses influence decisions and health system factors, including inspiration from healthcare providers and free service delivery. Barriers that were developed include limited knowledge of cervical cancer, fear of being diagnosed, negligence, cultural beliefs, peer negative influence, engagement of male healthcare providers, and demotivation from the healthcare providers.
Conclusion: this study suggests that women are misinformed about cervical cancer, its association with HIV, and the importance of early screening. Raising public knowledge about the disease's causes, risks, symptoms, prevention measures, and current treatment choices is paramount to eliminating myths, misconceptions, stigma, and fears.
Facilitators and barriers to uptake of cervical cancer screening: a qualitative study of women living with the human immunodeficiency virus in Tanzania
Sonia Joseph Kabika1,&, Amani Kikula1,2,3, Manase Kilonzi4, Vincent Tarimo1,5
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, 3Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium, 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Muhimbili National Hospital, P. O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
&Corresponding author
Introduction: cervical cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and leading cause of cancer death in women in Sub-Saharan Africa, and East Africa is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Globally, an estimated 5% of all cervical cancer cases are attributable to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening for women living with HIV are substantially crucial to reducing the burden of HIV attributed to cervical cancer in the future. This study explored facilitators and barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected women.
Methods: an exploratory qualitative study was conducted from November 2022 to January 2023 at Muhimbili National Hospital, involving 32 participants. Participants were recruited by purposive sampling, and data was collected using open-ended questions for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The interview guide contained information on social demographic characteristics, knowledge of the cervical disease, perceptions, facilitators, and barriers towards cervical cancer screening uptake. Data were transcribed and analyzed manually by using a thematic approach.
Results: the coded texts generated six themes with several subthemes in each theme. The results showed that facilitators towards screening include individual factors that are good knowledge of cervical cancer, good health-seeking behavior, and positive perception of cervical cancer. Also, spouses influence decisions and health system factors, including inspiration from healthcare providers and free service delivery. Barriers that were developed include limited knowledge of cervical cancer, fear of being diagnosed, negligence, cultural beliefs, peer negative influence, engagement of male healthcare providers, and demotivation from the healthcare providers.
Conclusion: this study suggests that women are misinformed about cervical cancer, its association with HIV, and the importance of early screening. Raising public knowledge about the disease's causes, risks, symptoms, prevention measures, and current treatment choices is paramount to eliminating myths, misconceptions, stigma, and fears.
