Back to Search
Start Over
Female health-care providers' advocacy of self-sampling after participating in a workplace program for cervical cancer screening in Ghana: a mixed-methods study
- Source :
- Global Health Action, article-version (VoR) Version of Record, Global Health Action, Vol 13, Iss 1 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Background Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Ghanaian women and screening coverage is low. ACCESSING is a cross-sectional study investigating human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence via self-sampling in rural communities of the North Tongu district in Ghana. Female health-care providers (HCPs) were invited to self-collect a cervicovaginal sample with a commercial sampler in order to acquaint themselves with the sampling method. Objective This study set out to explore female HCPs’ perceptions, advocacy for, and implications of self-sampling with the aim of enhancing self-sampling acceptability in the targeted screening population. Methods A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of (a) a survey among 52 female HCPs working in a district hospital and (b) 10 one-to-one semi-structured interviews with purposefully sampled HCPs. Results The quantitative analysis of the survey (n = 52) showed that, among HCPs who took the sample themselves (50/52), all found it ‘Easy’ or ‘Very Easy’ and felt ‘Very Comfortable’ or ‘Comfortable’. 82.7% indicated that they would undertake screening more often, and 98.1% indicated they would prefer self-sampling, if cervical cancer risk is as reliably determined as by clinician-directed cytobrush sampling. All interview participants (n = 10) indicated that they appreciated the program and would recommend the screening to their patients and/or family members and neighbours. Common reasons for preferring self-sampling were less (anticipated) pain compared to speculum examination and more privacy. Conclusions Self-sampling for cervical cancer screening is highly acceptable to female HCPs. Setting up a workplace screening program that entails the option of self-sampling could create greater awareness and positive attitudes among HCPs to educating their patients, families, and neighbours on cervical cancer risks and motivate HCPs to advocate for women’s participation in screening.
- Subjects :
- education
Papillomavirus Infections
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Ghana
Self Care
cervical cancer screening advocacy
LMIC
Cross-Sectional Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
acceptability
Humans
Mass Screening
Female
Original Article
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Workplace
human papillomavirus
600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit::610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Early Detection of Cancer
qualitative research
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16549880
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Global health action
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f464f43a650a6376cbad25b1d80c0697