Women's perspectives on cervical screening and treatment in developing countries: experiences with new technologies and service delivery strategies.
This review of studies conducted by partners in the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention (ACCP) examines women's perspectives on, and acceptability of, new cervical cancer screening and treatment approaches, management by mid-level staff, single-visit strategies, treatment side effects, and post-treatment abstinence requirements in low-resource settings. All screening, managed by female nurses and irrespective of method or constellation of methods, appeared to be highly acceptable. Similarly, cryotherapy treatment, including cryotherapy managed by nurses immediately after screening, was well-received by women in the studies. Minor side effects, although rather prevalent, and difficulties with post-treatment abstinence, did not appear to significantly deter women from recommending the procedure to friends. Rather, a sense of relief was evident, a feeling that it was better to be treated than not treated, and better to be treated sooner rather than later. While full replication may not be possible, this does not lessen the fact that screening and treatment in developing countries, even with new technologies, immediate treatment and even using mid-level providers, can be very acceptable to women if provided in a safe, caring and preferably all-female environment.
Bradley
Janet
J
Engender Health, 440 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. jbradley@engenderhealth.org
Coffey
Patricia
P
Arrossi
Silvina
S
Agurto
Irene
I
Bingham
Allison
A
Dzuba
Ilana
I
Kleine
Amy N
AN
Lewis
Robbyn
R
White
Sarah C
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000639:trends*; D017679:Cryotherapy; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*