One of the barriers to cervical cancer prevention and care is the spread of misinformation. Understanding these information gaps is an important step towards addressing them.
What inaccurate, misleading, or confusing information about cervical cancer, HPV vaccination, screening, diagnosis, or treatment have you encountered in your setting? Please share one or two examples and explain why they may be harmful or misleading.
We have already heard about some misconceptions:
1. "There is no point going to the clinic if I do not have symptoms"
2. "If I am diagnosed with cancer, I will die. It is better not to know."
3. "HPV vaccination will destroy my ability to have children"
4. "A positive HPV test means I have cancer"
5. "Screening is painful, dangerous, or can cause cancer"
Are you aware of such misconceptions in your setting/country? Which misconceptions are most important? What is the origin of these misconceptions? How do they spread? How can they be addressed?
Can you identify other misconceptions about cervical cancer in your setting/country?
Please email your thoughts to: hifa@hifaforums.org
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