[Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/cervical-cancer-62-q2-what-questions-do... ]
Dear Meena and all,
Thank you for your recent message.
"There is hardly any evidence-based scientific information in simple language available through social media (messages, reels, infographics), educational advertisements (as for other cancers), and cervical cancer education materials integrated into the school education curriculum."
I invite discussion on the role of social media in helping to meet the information needs of women regarding cervical cancer. WhatsApp and Facebook are probably the two most widely used social media platforms among women worldwide. All: How are women in your country using WhatsApp and Facebook to share health information and support one another? Are there examples of these platforms being used successfully to educate women about reproductive health, HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening?
Conversely, are there examples where misinformation about cervical cancer is being spread?
On your second point, how are educational advertisements being used currently, and what is their role? A few days ago I shared a video of a mobile screening unit in Pune, India. The outside of the vehicle carried several posters showing information about cervical screening. https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/cervical-cancer-66-mobile-cervical-canc... This would seem to be a good use of such posters? Women can read and learn before they decide. Posters can also be placed on the walls of clinics. This allows people to read privately and get answers to some of their questions. Having read the posters, they may have specific questions they can ask the nurse or doctor. The average length of a consultation in many countries is a small fraction of what is needed (in some cases less than 1 minute), and so anything that can complement the information provided by the health worker is important.
On the third point, this is an interesting topic. Some countries restrict reproductive health education of all kinds. I have learned that there is another element to consider: even where reproductive health education is included, the scope may be limited to puberty, menstruation, reproduction and sexually transmitted infections without ever being taught about HPV, cervical cancer, vaccination or screening. Can anyone share their experience on this topic?
Many thanks, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org