A Community-Based Approach to Cervical Cancer Prevention: Lessons Learned in Rural Guatemala

Abstract These past months of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic have given us ample opportunity to reflect on the US health-care system. Despite overwhelming tragedy, it is an opportunity for us to learn and to change. As we postpone routine visits because of the pandemic, we worry about risks for patients who delay cancer screening. We use cervical cancer screening and prevention as an example of how we can use some “lessons learned” from the pandemic to prevent “collateral losses,” such as an increase in cancers. COVID-2019–related health-system changes, like the more rapid evaluation of diagnostic tests and vaccines, the transition to compensated virtual care for most counseling and education visits, and broadened access to home services, offer potential benefits to the delivery of cervical cancer screening and prevention. While we detail the case for cervical cancer prevention, many of the issues discussed are generalizable to other preventative measures. It would be a tragedy if the morbidity and mortality of COVID-2019 are multiplied because of additional suffering caused by delayed or deferred cancer screening and diagnostic evaluation—but maybe with creativity and reflection, we can use this pandemic to improve care.

Download Full-text

The Single-Visit Approach as a Cervical Cancer Prevention Strategy Among Women With HIV in Ethiopia: Successes and Lessons Learned

Global Health Science and Practice ◽

10.9745/ghsp-d-15-00325 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 87-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Netsanet Shiferaw ◽

Graciela Salvador-Davila ◽

Konjit Kassahun ◽

Mohamad I Brooks ◽

Teklu Weldegebreal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Cervical Cancer Prevention ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Prevention Strategy ◽

Single Visit ◽

Women With Hiv

Download Full-text

The Peru Cervical Cancer Prevention Study (PERCAPS): Community-Based Participatory Research in Manchay, Peru

International Journal of Gynecological Cancer ◽

10.1097/igc.0b013e318275b007 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 141-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kimberly L. Levinson ◽

Carolina Abuelo ◽

Eunice Chyung ◽

Jorge Salmeron ◽

Suzanne E. Belinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Community Health ◽

Community Health Workers ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Health Workers ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Cervical Cancer Prevention ◽

Community Based ◽

Research Techniques

ObjectiveCervical cancer is a preventable disease which causes significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Although technology for early detection continues to improve, prevention programs suffer from significant barriers. Community-based participatory research is an approach to research which focuses on collaboration with the community to surmount these barriers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of community-based participatory research techniques in a mother-child screen/treat and vaccinate program for cervical cancer prevention in Manchay, Peru.Materials and MethodsHuman papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling and cryotherapy were used for the screen/treat intervention, and the Gardasil vaccine was used for the vaccine intervention. Community health workers from Manchay participated in a 3-day educational course, designed by the research team. The community health workers then decided how to implement the interventions in their community. The success of the program was measured by (1) the ability of the community health workers to determine an implementation plan, (2) the successful use of research forms provided, (3) participation and retention rates, and (4) satisfaction of the participants.Results(1) The community health workers used a door-to-door approach through which participants were successfully registered and both interventions were successfully carried out; (2) registration forms, consent forms, and result forms were used correctly with minimal error; (3) screen/treat intervention: 97% of registered participants gave an HPV sample, 94% of HPV-positive women were treated, and 90% returned for 6-month follow-up; vaccine intervention: 95% of registered girls received the first vaccine, 97% of those received the second vaccine, and 93% the third; (4) 96% of participants in the screen/treat intervention reported high satisfaction.ConclusionsCommunity-based participatory research techniques successfully helped to implement a screen/treat and vaccinate cervical cancer prevention program in Manchay, Peru. These techniques may help overcome barriers to large-scale preventive health-care interventions.

Download Full-text