Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Infrequently Screened Women Completing Human Papillomavirus Self-Collection: My Body My Test-1

Factors affecting cervical cancer screening among Yemeni immigrant women in Klang Valley, Malaysia: A cross sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Cervical cancer is a significant public health problem for women worldwide. It is the fourth most frequent cancer in women globally. While early detection of cancerous lesions through screening tests leads to a better prognosis and a better chance of being cured, the number of people who go for screening is still low, especially for groups that are marginalized, like immigrant women.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify cervical cancer screening practices and factors influencing screening status among Yemeni immigrant women living in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study among 355 randomly selected respondents between the ages of 20 and 65 was conducted through an online survey. A questionnaire was sent directly to the participants via WhatsApp. The analysis was conducted using SPSS 25 with a significance level of 0.05. It included descriptive analysis, chi-square and multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The response rate was 59%, with the majority of the respondents being married and between the ages of 35 and 49. Screening was reported at 23.1% in the previous three years. The final model revealed that age group 50-65 years (AOR = 5.39, 95% CI: 1.53-18.93), insurance status (AOR 2.22, 95% CI = 1.15-4.3), knowledge (AOR = 6.67, 95% CI = 3.45-12.9), access to health care facilities (AOR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.29-16.65), and perceived barriers (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3-4.83) were significant predictors of cervical screening uptake among Yemeni immigrant women in Malaysia (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to the results, cervical cancer screening was found to be low among Yemeni immigrant women. The predictors were age group 50-65 years, insurance status, knowledge, access to health care facilities and perceived barriers. Efforts to enhance immigrant women's participation in cervical cancer screening must tackle barriers to access to healthcare services as well as expand cervical cancer screening education programs.

Determinants of Low-Income Women's Participation in Self-Collected Samples for Cervical Cancer Detection: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

BACKGROUND

Low-income women (LIW) are underrepresented in physician-provided cervical cancer screening. Providing women with an option for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling would increase cervical cancer screening. However, little is known about LIW's attitude towards self-sampling for cervical cancer. We determined the associations between the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs and LIW intention for participation in the HPV self-sampling.

METHODS

A 44-item survey was administered among women receiving food from a food pantry in central Texas. Independent variables included TPB constructs (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control). The outcome variables were intentions and preference for self-sampling. Both variables were measured on a 5-point scale. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

A sample of 241 participants (age 50.13 ± 9.60 years) comprising non-Hispanic White (40%), Black/African American (27%), and Hispanic (30%) participated in the study. The participants were current with a pap test (54.8%) and preferred self-sampling (42%). The participant's attitudes and subjective norms were significantly associated with their intention for self-sampling, accounting for 38.7% of the variance (p < .001). Women who were overdue for pap testing versus current with pap testing had increased odds of preferring self-sampling (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.27, 6.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The key predictors for LIW's intention for self-sampling included attitudes and subjective norms. Future research should use the TPB as a framework to examine whether intention predicts self-sampling behavior among LIW.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening From Three U.S. Healthcare Settings

INTRODUCTION

This study sought to characterize racial and ethnic disparities in cervical cancer screening and follow-up of abnormal findings across 3 U.S. healthcare settings.

METHODS

Data were from 2016 to 2019 and were analyzed in 2022, reflecting sites within the Multi-level Optimization of the Cervical Cancer Screening Process in Diverse Settings & Populations Research Center, part of the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process consortium, including a safety-net system in the southwestern U.S., a northwestern mixed-model system, and a northeastern integrated healthcare system. Screening uptake was evaluated among average-risk patients (i.e., no previous abnormalities) by race and ethnicity as captured in the electronic health record, using chi-square tests. Among patients with abnormal findings requiring follow-up, the proportion receiving colposcopy or biopsy within 6 months was reported. Multivariable regression was conducted to assess how clinical, socioeconomic, and structural characteristics mediate observed differences.

RESULTS

Among 188,415 eligible patients, 62.8% received cervical cancer screening during the 3-year study period. Screening use was lower among non-Hispanic Black patients (53.2%) and higher among Hispanic (65.4%,) and Asian/Pacific Islander (66.5%) than among non-Hispanic White patients (63.5%, all p<0.001). Most differences were explained by the distribution of patients across sites and differences in insurance. Hispanic patients remained more likely to screen after controlling for a variety of clinical and sociodemographic factors (risk ratio=1.14, CI=1.12, 1.16). Among those receiving any screening test, Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to receive Pap-only testing (versus receiving co-testing). Follow-up from abnormal results was low for all groups (72.5%) but highest among Hispanic participants (78.8%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large cohort receiving care across 3 diverse healthcare settings, cervical cancer screening and follow-up were below 80% coverage targets. Lower screening for Black patients was attenuated by controlling for insurance and site of care, underscoring the role of systemic inequity. In addition, it is crucial to improve follow-up after abnormalities are identified, which was low for all populations.

Social determinants of health and US cancer screening interventions: A systematic review

There remains a need to synthesize linkages between social determinants of health (SDOH) and cancer screening to reduce persistent inequities contributing to the US cancer burden. The authors conducted a systematic review of US-based breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer screening intervention studies to summarize how SDOH have been considered in interventions and relationships between SDOH and screening. Five databases were searched for peer-reviewed research articles published in English between 2010 and 2021. The Covidence software platform was used to screen articles and extract data using a standardized template. Data items included study and intervention characteristics, SDOH intervention components and measures, and screening outcomes. The findings were summarized using descriptive statistics and narratives. The review included 144 studies among diverse population groups. SDOH interventions increased screening rates overall by a median of 8.4 percentage points (interquartile interval, 1.8-18.8 percentage points). The objective of most interventions was to increase community demand (90.3%) and access (84.0%) to screening. SDOH interventions related to health care access and quality were most prevalent (227 unique intervention components). Other SDOH, including educational, social/community, environmental, and economic factors, were less common (90, 52, 21, and zero intervention components, respectively). Studies that included analyses of health policy, access to care, and lower costs yielded the largest proportions of favorable associations with screening outcomes. SDOH were predominantly measured at the individual level. This review describes how SDOH have been considered in the design and evaluation of cancer screening interventions and effect sizes for SDOH interventions. Findings may guide future intervention and implementation research aiming to reduce US screening inequities.

Effect of HPV self-collection kits on cervical cancer screening uptake among under-screened women from low-income US backgrounds (MBMT-3): a phase 3, open-label, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Most cervical cancer in the USA occurs in under-screened women. The My Body, My Test-3 (MBMT-3) trial sought to assess the efficacy of mailed human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection kits with appointment-scheduling assistance to increase uptake of cervical cancer screening among under-screened women from low-income backgrounds compared with scheduling assistance alone.

METHODS

MBMT-3 is a phase 3, open-label, two-arm, randomised controlled trial. Participants were recruited from 22 counties in North Carolina state, USA, and we partnered with 21 clinics across these counties. Participants were eligible for inclusion if they were aged 25-64 years, had an intact cervix, were uninsured or enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare, had an income of 250% or less of the US Federal Poverty Level, were living within the catchment area of a trial-associated clinic, and were overdue for screening (ie, Papanicolaou test ≥4 years ago or high-risk HPV test ≥6 years ago). Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive a mailed HPV self-collection kit and assistance for scheduling a free screening appointment (intervention group) or to receive scheduling assistance alone (control group). Randomisation was conducted by county using permuted blocks of nine patients and assignment to group was not masked. Participants in the intervention group were mailed HPV self-collection kits to collect a cervical-vaginal sample and return it by mail for testing. Samples were tested with the Aptima HPV assay (Hologic, San Diego, CA, USA), and participants were informed of high-risk HPV results by telephone call. Trial staff made up to three telephone call attempts to provide scheduling assistance for in-clinic screening for all participants. The primary outcome was cervical cancer screening uptake (ie, attending an in-clinic screening appointment or testing negative for high-risk HPV with a returned self-collected sample) within 6 months of enrolment in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02651883, and has been completed.

FINDINGS

Recruitment occurred between April 11, 2016, and Dec 16, 2019. 4256 women contacted the trial to participate, of whom 899 (21%) were eligible for inclusion and 697 (78%) returned consent forms. Of those who consented, 461 (66%) women were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 236 (34%) women were randomly assigned to the control group. We excluded 32 ineligible women post-randomisation, leaving 665 for primary analysis. Screening uptake was higher in the intervention group (317 [72%] of 438) than control group (85 [37%] of 227; risk ratio 1·93, 95% CI 1·62-2·31). Among intervention participants, 341 (78%) of 438 returned a self-collection kit. Three participants reported hurt or injury when using the self-collection kit; no participants withdrew due to adverse effects.

INTERPRETATION

Among under-screened women from low-income backgrounds, mailed HPV self-collection kits with scheduling assistance led to greater uptake of cervical cancer screening than scheduling assistance alone. At-home HPV self-collection testing has the potential to increase screening uptake among under-screened women.

FUNDING

National Cancer Institute.

Prevention Strategies and Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer: Current State and Prospects

Cervical cancer ranks third among all new cancer cases and causes of cancer deaths in females. The paper provides an overview of cervical cancer prevention strategies employed in different regions, with incidence and mortality rates ranging from high to low. It assesses the effectiveness of approaches proposed by national healthcare systems by analysing data published in the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) since 2018 featuring the following keywords: "cervical cancer prevention", "cervical cancer screening", "barriers to cervical cancer prevention", "premalignant cervical lesions" and "current strategies". WHO's 90-70-90 global strategy for cervical cancer prevention and early screening has proven effective in different countries in both mathematical models and clinical practice. The data analysis carried out within this study identified promising approaches to cervical cancer screening and prevention, which can further enhance the effectiveness of the existing WHO strategy and national healthcare systems. One such approach is the application of AI technologies for detecting precancerous cervical lesions and choosing treatment strategies. As such studies show, the use of AI can not only increase detection accuracy but also ease the burden on primary care.

Persistent disparities of cervical cancer among American Indians/Alaska natives: Are we maximizing prevention tools?

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer incidence and mortality disparities experienced by American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women have persisted for decades. Pap smear screening and HPV vaccination are powerful tools to prevent cervical cancer. We evaluated the utilization of these tools among AI/ANs living in the Pacific Northwest (PNW).

METHODS

The Indian Health Service (IHS) National Data Warehouse's Epi Data Mart was analyzed using all healthcare visits from 2010 to 2020 from IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian clinics in the PNW. Women ages 21-64 were included and considered up-to-date on pap smears if they had either cytology within 3 years or cytology with HPV testing within 5 years of the most recent clinical encounter. HPV vaccination rates for both sexes were calculated for individuals ages 9-26. HPV vaccination was considered complete if: two vaccines were received prior to age 15 or after three vaccinations if initiated after age 15.

FINDINGS

Cervical cancer screening rates are below the national average of 73.5% ranging between 57.1% - 65.0%. Sub-analysis of age groups shows substantially lower rates of up-to-date pap smear screening in the 50-64 age group. HPV vaccination rates have increased over time for both sexes across all age groups. However, the current vaccination rate of 58.6% is well below the Healthy People 2030 goal of 84.3%.

INTERPRETATION

Cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination are the cornerstones of cervical cancer prevention and early detection. These tools are underutilized and public health efforts can be strengthened to improve cervical cancer disparities in AI/AN women.

FUNDING

Author ASB: Funding for this project has been provided through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Harold Amos Minority Faculty Development Grant and the National Cancer Institute K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award.

Racial and ethnic differences in cervical cancer screening barriers and intentions: The My Body My Test-3 HPV self-collection trial among under-screened, low-income women

Under-screened women are more likely to be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer at later stages and have worse survival outcomes. Under- or un-insured women, low-income women, and minoritized groups face barriers to screening. Intention to screen is an indicator of future screening behavior, yet is understudied among low-income, under-screened women. Participants were 710 low-income, uninsured or publicly insured women ages 25-64 years in North Carolina who were not up to date on cervical cancer screening according to national guidelines. Participants were asked about barriers to screening and intention to screen. We estimated reported barriers to cervical cancer screening stratified by race and ethnicity (categorized as White, Black, and Hispanic) and assessed predictors of intention to screen. Sixty-one percent of all participants reported 5 or more barriers to screening. The most commonly reported reasons for not getting screened were lack of insurance (White: 71%, Black: 62%, Hispanic/Latina: 63%) and cost (White: 55%, Black: 44%, Hispanic/Latina: 61%). Women were more likely to have an intention to screen if they reported "it was not hard to get screening" (OR: 1.47 (1.00, 2.15)). Older women reported being less likely to intend to screen. Black women reported being more likely to intend to screen than White women. Lack of health insurance and cost were frequently reported barriers to cervical cancer screening. Increasing knowledge of affordable clinics and expanding access to Medicaid may reduce barriers and increase cervical cancer screening uptake.

Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake and Predictors Among Women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among females, contributing to significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. These numbers have significantly decreased since the implementation of cervical cancer screening. Despite that, screening in many countries, including Saudi Arabia, remains suboptimal.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between May to November 2021 among 385 women aged 21-65 years who live in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected using a four-part online survey: demographic characteristics, cervical cancer screening status, predictors of undergoing cervical cancer screening, and barriers to screening.

RESULTS

Among the 385 women who completed the survey, only around one-third (33.4%) had a Pap smear at some point in their lives. The factors that were found to be significantly associated with the screening status (having a Pap test) in the univariate analysis are increasing age, education level, monthly income, perceived risk of getting cervical cancer, source of information about Pap test, having a family doctor, recommendation by the family doctor to have a Pap test, undergoing a gynecological examination, visiting a gynecologist in the past, history of previous gynecological complaint, and history of abortion. In the multivariable analysis, only four factors were found to be significantly associated with the screening status: age, monthly income, undergoing a gynecological examination in the past, and the recommendation by the family doctor, which by far had the largest effect.

CONCLUSION

Cervical cancer screening rate is relatively low in the city of Jeddah. The recommendation of a Pap test by the family doctor had the largest impact on screening status. These results support the important role of family physicians in promoting screening tests for preventive healthcare. The results also suggest the need for education programs to promote cervical cancer screening among women in Saudi Arabia.

Cervical cancer screening uptake and determinant factors among women in Ambo town, Western Oromia, Ethiopia: Community-based cross-sectional study

Background

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer‐related death in Ethiopian women. About 77.6% of women died of 6294 new cases reported in 2019. Early screening for cervical cancer has substantially reduced morbidity and mortality attributed to it. In Ethiopia, most of the women visit the health facilities at the late stage of the disease in which the offered intervention is not promising. Therefore, we aimed to assess the level of cervical cancer screening uptake and its determinant among women of Ambo town, Ethiopia.

Methods

Community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among 422 women aged 20–65 years. An interviewer‐administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Estimates were presented using an odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI. Statistical significance was declared at a p value of <0.05.

Results

In the present study, 392 women were participated giving a response rate of 93%. Only 8.7% (34) of the study participants were received cervical cancer screening in their lifetime. Being in the age group of 30–39 years (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.22, 8.36), having cervical cancer‐related discussions with a healthcare provider (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.17, 10.7), and knowing the availability of cervical cancer screening service (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.03, 7.87) were significantly associated with uptake of cervical cancer screening.

Conclusion

In this study, cervical cancer screening uptake is very low. Our study identifies clues for determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake. Thus, further studies using a better study design might be helpful to explore determinants of low utilization of CC screening services and suggest an appropriate intervention that increases CC screening uptake in the study area.

Perceived Financial Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and Associated Cost Burden Among Low-Income, Under-Screened Women

Background: Despite screening's effectiveness in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality, disparities in cervical cancer screening uptake remain, with lower rates documented among uninsured and low-income individuals. We examined perceived financial barriers to, and the perceived cost burden of, cervical cancer screening. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 702 low-income, uninsured or publicly insured women ages 25-64 years in North Carolina, U.S., who were not up to date on cervical cancer screening according to national guidelines. Participants were asked about perceived financial barriers to screening and how much they perceived screening would cost. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the sociodemographic predictors of perceived financial barriers. Results: Seventy-two percent of participants perceived financial barriers to screening. Screening appointment costs (71%) and follow-up/future treatment costs (44%) were most commonly reported, followed by lost pay due to time missed from work (6%) and transportation costs (5%). In multivariable analysis, being uninsured (vs. publicly insured), younger (25-34 vs. 50-64 years), White (vs. Black), and not reporting income data were associated with perceiving screening costs and future treatment costs as barriers to screening. Participants reported wide-ranging estimates of the perceived out-of-pocket cost of screening ($0-$1300), with a median expected cost of $245. Conclusions: The majority of our sample of low-income women perceived substantial financial barriers to screening, particularly related to screening appointment costs and potential follow-up/future treatment costs. Providing greater cost transparency and access to financial assistance may reduce perceived financial barriers to screening, potentially increasing screening uptake among this underserved population. Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT02651883.