Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38978020›Full record

ArticleBMC women's health2024

Providers and women's perspectives on opportunities, challenges and recommendations to improve cervical cancer screening in women living with HIV at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: a qualitative study.

Collins David Agaba, Alexcer Namuli, Brenda Ainomugisha, Leevan Tibaijuka, Mackline Ninsiima, Joseph Ngonzi, Cecilia Akatukwasa, Asiphas Owaraganise

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC women's health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Collins David AgabaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Alexcer NamuliDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda.
Brenda AinomugishaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Leevan TibaijukaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda.
Mackline NinsiimaDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Joseph NgonziDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
Cecilia AkatukwasaInfectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
Asiphas OwaraganiseDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda. asiphas@gmail.com.

Funding

Capacity Building Grant, under the Faculty of Medicine First Mile Community Health Program MUSTFOM/FM/19/01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCervical cancer screening uptake remains low despite being a critical prevention method for adult women living with HIV(WLHIV). These women experience greater incidence and persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and severe outcomes, including cervical cancer comorbidity and death.

objectiveWe explored the opportunities, challenges, and recommendations of clinical care providers and WLHIV to improve cervical cancer screening uptake among WLHIV in Southwestern Uganda.

methodsIn a cross-sectional qualitative study from January to June 2021 at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, we interviewed six key informant clinical care providers and held four focus group discussions with women living with HIV. Data was coded using Atlas ti software and analysed using thematic inductive analysis.

resultsThe participants identified several prevailing opportunities for cervical cancer screening, including skilled clinical care workers, public awareness for demand creation, optimized clinic flow, provider-led referrals, and peer-led information sharing that ease clinic navigation and shorten participant throughput. However, challenges occurred due to standalone services resulting in double queuing, longer clinic visit hours, missed chances for screening alongside unsupported lower health facilities leading to crowding at the referral hospital, and inadequate patient privacy measures leading to shame and stigma and the misconception that cervical cancer is incurable. Integrating HPV-DNA testing in HIV services was perceived with ambivalence; some participants worried about the quality of sample collection, while others valued the privacy it offered. Optimising self-collected DNA testing and sufficient counselling were recommended to improve cervical cancer screening uptake.

conclusionOpportunities for cervical cancer screening included trained clinical care professionals, increased public awareness, improved clinic flow, provider referrals, and peer education. Challenges, such as unsupported lower-level health facilities, misconceptions, inadequate patient privacy, and uncertainty about integrating HPV-DNA screening into HIV services, were cited. Adequate counselling and self-sample collection were recommended to foster screening. Our findings may guide healthcare programs integrating cervical cancer screening into HIV clinics to reach the 70% World Health Organisation targets by 2030.

Indexed as

Early Detection of CancerFocus GroupsHIV InfectionsQualitative ResearchUterine Cervical NeoplasmsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMass ScreeningMiddle AgedPapillomavirus InfectionsPatient Acceptance of Health CareReferral and ConsultationUgandaCervical Cancer screeningClinical care providersImprovingWomen living with HIV

Identifiers

PMID38978020
PMCPMC11229203

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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.