Dear HIFA colleagues,
I have just reviewed this brief publication from Malawi, published by UNICEF, WHO and others in 2022.
Dispelling myths around cervical cancer screening
https://www.unicef.org/esa/media/11886/file/dispelling%20myths%20around%...
It includes findings from a study that corroborate what we have discussed on HIFA with two additional points:
1. 'Men are reluctant to allow women to be screened for cervical cancer, particularly if the health worker is male.'
It would be interesting to understand the reasons for men's reluctance. Can anyone help?
2. 'Moreover, many women are scared as they hear rumours that the screening is painful and dangerous involving large instruments that could cause infertility.'
This suggests that fear of infertility is related specifically to instrumentation. 'Sometimes, health workers brought with
them the speculums and the torches used during the procedures to dispel the rumours about the size of the instruments.'
The main success of the project was reported to be 'the sensitisation of the influential chiefs and other traditional leaders who mobilised the population and assisted in dispelling myths as well as the involvement of the HIV support groups'.
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