The Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Patients Receiving ARVs in a Resource-Limited Environment

Title

The Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Patients Receiving ARVs in a Resource-Limited Environment

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Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2017

Abstract or Description

Background:

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with increased risk among women living with HIV in a resource limited environment. This study aimed to describe rates and determinants of cervical cancer screening among patients receiving Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

Methods:

The data was collected by administered questionnaires to patients presenting for monthly ARV refills in an HIV Clinic in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Findings:

A total of 421 women presenting for monthly ARV refills at the Regional Referral HIV Clinic in Dodoma, Tanzania was interviewed, of which 90% (375) had never heard of HPV and only 1% (4) had received the HPV vaccine. The average duration of HIV infection was 5.43years. While 87% (367) of the women had never been screened for cervical cancer, 12.5% (46) were not willing to undergo screening. Uptake of cervical cancer screening and the willingness to screen were modeled in multiple logistic regression models to exam factors impacting screening. Duration of HIV infection was not significant in the model but was linearly associated with the cervical cancer screening (p=0.02) in Mante-Haenszel Chi-Square. Women without any live children were 2.6 (95% C.I 1.2-5.6) times less likely to screen for cervical cancer than women with 1-2 live births and rural dwellers were 3.0 (95% C.I 1.1-8.1) times less likely to screen than urban dwellers. Women age 40-49 years were 5.0(95% C.I. 1.6-15.3) times not willing to screen for cervical cancer than women of age group 18-39 years.

Interpretation:

It is recommended that more education on cervical cancer screening should be provided for rural dwellers, older or middle aged women, and women without children. Increasing rates of cervical cancer screening for immune-compromised, along with HPV vaccine campaigns to increase knowledge and vaccination rates are preventive strategies targeting invasive cervical cancer.

Disciplines

Public Health

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The Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Patients Receiving ARVs in a Resource-Limited Environment

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