ArticleBMC public health2020
"A loving man has a very huge responsibility": A mixed methods study of Malawian men's knowledge and beliefs about cervical cancer.
Article in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Understanding cervical cancer prevention in Africa: a qualitative systematic review of the role of men.BMJ open · 2024Pooled it
- "A Man With a Loving Heart": A Systematic Review of Male Involvement in Cervical Cancer Screening in Africa.International journal of public health · 2024Pooled it
- Health-seeking behaviour of rural women regarding cervical cancer prevention in Namibia: A qualitative study.Journal of public health in Africa · 2026Article
- Human papillomavirus vaccination in rural Malawi: Identifying factors associated with vaccine uptake using a community-based household survey.Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 2025Article
- Challenges and Opportunities of Male Partner Involvement in Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control in Central Kenya: A Qualitative Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Factors Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Ethnically Diverse Women in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Male partner roles in cervical cancer transmission and prevention in central Kenya: A quantitative approach.Health SA = SA Gesondheid · 2025Article
- Male support for cervical cancer screening in Debre Berhan City Ethiopia a community based cross sectional survey.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Men's Satisfaction with General Health Services is Associated with Future Use of HIV Testing in Malawi: A Community-Representative Survey.AIDS and behavior · 2024Article
- Men's perceptions and perceived acceptability of their female partner's use of self-administered intravaginal therapies for treatment of cervical precancer in Kenya.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2024Article
- Men's perceptions and perceived acceptability of their female partner's use of self-administered intravaginal therapies for treatment of cervical precancer in Kenya.Ecancermedicalscience · 2024Article
- Barriers to follow-up after an abnormal cervical cancer screening result and the role of male partners: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn Malawi, numerous barriers may prevent women from accessing cervical cancer screening services - including social factors such as male partner involvement. We conducted surveys that included open- and closed-ended questions with married Malawian men to evaluate their knowledge and beliefs about cervical cancer.
methodsHIV-positive adult (≥18 years) men (married or in a stable relationship) were recruited from an antiretroviral therapy clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. Men were asked a series of survey questions to assess their knowledge about cervical cancer, experience with cervical cancer, their female partner's screening history, and their beliefs about gender norms and household decision-making. Following the survey, participants responded to a set of open-ended interview questions about cervical cancer screening, and men's role in prevention.
resultsOne hundred-twenty men were enrolled with average age 44 years and 55% having completed secondary school or higher education. Despite only moderate knowledge about cervical cancer and screening (average assessment score of 62% correct), all men expressed support of cervical cancer screening, and most (86%) believed they should be involved in their female partner's decision to be screened. Over half (61%) of men said their female partner had previously been screened for cervical cancer, and this was positively correlated with the male respondent having more progressive gender norms around sexual practices. Some men expressed concerns about the screening process, namely the propriety of vaginal exams when performed by male clinicians, and whether the procedure was painful.
conclusionsMale partners in Malawi want to be involved in decisions about cervical cancer screening, but have limited knowledge about screening, and hold rigid beliefs about gender norms that may affect their support for screening. Messaging campaigns addressing men's concerns may be instrumental in improving women's adoption of cervical cancer screening services in Malawi and similar settings.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.