Dataset Information

Barriers to cervical cancer screening among rural women in eastern China: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore barriers to free cervical cancer screening among rural women in China from the perspective of women, healthcare providers and women's husbands to inform intervention planning.

Design

A qualitative study framed around potential policy and practice options, drawing on the concepts of descriptive phenomenology and implementation research.

Setting

This study was carried out at township level within two counties in Jining Prefecture of eastern China.

Participants and data collection

Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 21 women and five healthcare providers, focus group discussions with nine healthcare providers and key informant interviews with four husbands of women eligible for screening.

Results

Thematic analysis generated five major themes: (1) gaps in knowledge of cervical cancer and health awareness, (2) fear of cancer and screening outcomes, (3) cultural barriers including reticence for intimate examinations, (4) influence of close contacts on screening decisions and (5) inconvenience. These demonstrate key knowledge gaps challenging current community health education. Important barriers, including fear of treatment cost and the time needed for screening, were also raised.

Conclusion

Our study details important barriers to cervical cancer screening relating to knowledge gaps, attitudes of fear or embarrassment and the role of contacts and service models. These provide data for policy and planning to improve the screening that will decrease the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer in China.

SUBMITTER: Yang H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6429857 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Barriers to cervical cancer screening among rural women in eastern China: a qualitative study.

Yang Huan H Li Shun-Ping SP Chen Qing Q Morgan Christopher C

BMJ open 20190313 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>To explore barriers to free cervical cancer screening among rural women in China from the perspective of women, healthcare providers and women's husbands to inform intervention planning.<h4>Design</h4>A qualitative study framed around potential policy and practice options, drawing on the concepts of descriptive phenomenology and implementation research.<h4>Setting</h4>This study was carried out at township level within two counties in Jining Prefecture of eastern China.<h4>Par ...[more]

PMID: 30872552

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Project description:BackgroundIn the context of WHO's "task shifting" project and growing global consensus on primary HPV-based cervical cancer screening, self-sampling is a promising new tool to expand screening access, uptake and coverage for women worldwide. We aimed to explore perceptions and acceptability of HPV self-sampling-based cervical cancer screening among community members and health professionals in rural northwest Ethiopia and to identify preferences and socio-cultural barriers regarding self-sampling in order to design a suitable high-coverage screening intervention for a rural African setting.MethodsFour community-based focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted in the rural district of Dabat, Northwest Ethiopia, each comprising 8 to 14 female participants, counting a total of 41 participants. The groups were homogenously composed in terms of their socio-economic status in the community. They included health centre attendees, community members, nurses and health development army leaders (HDAL). Two qualitative data collection experts conducted the interviews in the local language, using a FGD guide with several thematic areas. All participants granted written informed consent prior to the conduct of the interviews. As a concrete example of an existing self-sampling approach for cervical cancer screening we used the Evalyn® Brush.ResultsEmerging themes included (i) misconceptions and low awareness about cervical cancer among community residents and primary health care providers in rural northwest Ethiopia, (ii) stigmatization and social exclusion of affected women, (iii) delay in seeking of health care due to poor access and availability of services, and lacking of a concept of early cancer prevention, (iv) need of spousal permission, (v) fear of financial burden and (vi) fear of social marginalization. The self-sampling device was regarded to be acceptable and was judged to be easy to use for most women. The existing Ethiopian health care structure could facilitate a community approach.ConclusionHome-based self-sampling for cervical cancer screening is a socially acceptable and feasible "task shifting" method that will increase cervical cancer screening access and coverage in the Ethiopian study community. Education, awareness creation, community mobilization and family inclusion are identified as key activities to promote, implement and facilitate "task shifting" approaches like self-sampling.

Project description:ObjectiveCervical cancer in Cameroon ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, mainly due to the lack of prevention. Our principal objective was to explore potential barriers to an human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening from a healthcare provider (HCP) perspective in a low-income context. Second, we aimed to explore the acceptability of a single-visit approach using HPV self-sampling.SettingsThe study took place in the District hospital of Dschang, Cameroon.ParticipantsFocus groups (FGs) involved HCPs working in the area of Dschang and Mbouda.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAll FGs were audiorecorded, transcribed and coded independently by two researchers using the ATLAS.ti software. A qualitative methodology was used to capture insights related to the way people perceive their surroundings. Discussion topics focused on perceived barriers, suggestions to improve cervical cancer screening uptake, and acceptability.ResultsA total of 16 HCPs were interviewed between July and August 2019. The identified barriers were (1) lack of basic knowledge on cervical cancer among most women and men and (2) lack of awareness of the role and existence of a screening programme to prevent it. Screening for cervical cancer prevention using HPV self-sampling was considered as an acceptable approach for patients according to HCPs. Traditional chiefs were identified as key entry points to raise awareness because they were perceived as essential to reach not only women, but also their male partners.ConclusionsAwareness campaigns about cervical cancer, its prevention and the availability of the screening programmes are crucial. Furthermore, involving male partners, as well as key community leaders or institutions was identified as a key strategy to encourage participation in the cervical cancer screening programme.Trial registrationEthical Cantonal Board of Geneva, Switzerland (CCER, N°2017-0110 and CER-amendment n°2) and Cameroonian National Ethics Committee for Human Health Research (N°2018/07/1083/CE/CNERSH/SP).

Project description:IntroductionRoutine cervical screening has been shown to greatly reduce both the number of new cervical cancers diagnosed each year and the number of deaths resulting from the disease. Nevertheless, cervical screening knowledge and screening uptake is very low in developing countries. In Ethiopia, the coverage of cervical cancer screening is only 1%. In this study, we aimed to assess cervical cancer screening knowledge and barriers for screening uptake among women in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 520 women were selected by a multi-stage sampling procedure. Interview based questioner was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socio-demographic and clinical profiles of the women. Multivariate logistic regression using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify independent predictors for cervical screening knowledge. A p-value of <0.05 was set to determine level of statistical significance.ResultsAmong all women, 42.7% had heard of cervical cancer screening and 144 (27.7%) women had adequate knowledge of cervical cancer screening. The mean (±SD) age of women was 27.7 (±5.49) years. In total, a quarter (25%) of eligible women had experience of cervical cancer screening. Not being married (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.8, 1.1-3.3), having an awareness of cervical cancer (AOR = 5.0, 2.7-9.1) and receiving information from health professionals (AOR = 1.9, 1.1-3.2) were the predictors for good cervical cancer screening knowledge. An absence of symptoms (57%), a lack of knowledge about screening (56.3%) and the lack of a screening service in their living area (42.2%) were the perceived barriers for screening uptake.ConclusionsCervical screening knowledge was low among women and less than half had heard of screening. Women also had low experience of screening. The lack of a screening service, the absence of symptoms and not knowing about screening were the perceived reasons for the low uptake. Hence, awareness campaigns and education should be undertaken by health professionals. Access and availability of screening service is also essential to improve screening uptake.

Dataset Information

Barriers to cervical cancer screening among rural women in eastern China: a qualitative study.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants and data collection

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Barriers to cervical cancer screening among rural women in eastern China: a qualitative study.

Similar Datasets

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