Dear HIFA colleagues,
Welcome again to our discussion on information needs for improving uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment, in collaboration with WHO.
Q1. How do people in your community or workplace generally perceive cervical cancer? Please describe the common concerns, beliefs, or attitudes you notice.
In relation to this question I would like to share a paper from Ethiopia:
Communities’ perceptions towards cervical cancer and its screening in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia: A qualitative study
Birhanu Wondimeneh Demissie et al. PLOS One. Published: January 7, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262142
Findings: A total of fifty-nine participants participated in both focus group discussions (three with men and six with women) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Most participants have not heard about cervical cancer but know cancer in general. Participants mentioned that the disease usually relates to many births and unprotected sexual intercourse but none mentioned HPV infection. Most of the participants perceive that cervical cancer is incurable and assume that it could be prevented but they think they are not vulnerable to the disease and screening is not necessary.
Conclusion: This study indicates that rural communities in the zone had limited knowledge about cervical cancer and even less about risk factors, screening, treatment and prevention. There is a great need for cancer education and prevention in Ethiopia.
Below are some selected quotes forom the participants:
“How do we go to the health facility when the disease does not show any symptoms; we have to be sick to be seen by a health professional” (35 years old female, Boloso Sore). One FGD participant mentioned that “what is the point of screening? After all, cancer is a killer; better off not knowing cancer will kill you” (34 years old male, Sodo Zuria).
“What do inserting metals do in a woman who did not show any symptoms of diseases; perhaps the metal will cause another disease condition that was not there in the first place” (29 years old female, Sodo Zuria).
"The moment she instructed me to put off my clothes and lie on a high bed. I was scared! I told her that I felt better and got drugs for what I came for, and then I left the room. When I told my friends how they do the screening, they stated they would never get that kind of screening. The service should not be that way; we should be served for what we go for” (40 years old female, Boloso Sore).
“If we go to prevention without any symptoms, what is the point? People might assume [those seeing us visiting the screening room] as we have cancer. The other issue is that if people know that we have cancer, we will be stigmatized, so better not to get known or get treatment” (42 years old female, Boloso Sore).
COMMENT (NPW): Do the above observations resonate with your experience? Are people in your community or country aware of cervical cancer? Are they interested in the possibility of preventing the disease?
Best wishes, 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