scholarly journals Health Literacy as a Shared Capacity: Does the Health Literacy of a Country Influence the Health Disparities among Immigrants?

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Lorini ◽  
Saverio Caini ◽  
Francesca Ierardi ◽  
Letizia Bachini ◽  
Fabrizio Gemmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
Country Level ◽  
European Health ◽  
Ecological Variable

Health literacy (HL) is an individual ability as well as a distributed resource available within an individual’s social network. We performed an explorative study assessing the role of HL as the country-level ecological variable in predicting the health disparities among immigrants. Country-level HL data were obtained from the publicly available first European Health Literacy Survey reports. Individual-level data on citizenship, perceived health status, body mass index, smoking habits, physical activity and attendance at breast and cervical cancer screening were extracted from the European Health Interview Survey of Eurostat. Data from both sources were obtained for Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland and Spain. The country-specific odds ratio (OR) for the association between the participants’ citizenship and other individual health-relevant characteristics was pooled into summary OR using random-effects models. Meta-regression was used to explore whether the HL of a country could explain part of the between-countries heterogeneity. Results: For the perceived health status, nutritional status and attendance at cervical cancer screening, the lower was the country-level HL (as ecological variable), the higher were the health inequalities relating to citizenship. The results of our exploratory research suggest that improving the population HL may help mitigate health inequalities between residents and migrants.

The Influence of Health Literacy on Knowledge of Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening Practices among Female Undergraduates at a University in Southwest Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday Joseph Ayamolowo ◽  
Lydia Feyisayo Akinrinde ◽  
Monisola Omoyeni Oginni ◽  
Love Bukola Ayamolowo
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Cervical Cancer Prevention ◽  
Screening Practices ◽  
Cancer Prevention And Screening ◽  
Southwest Nigeria

The global incidence of cancer is rising, and low-income and lower-middle-income countries have the worst figures. However, knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and cervical cancer screening practices remains poor in these regions. This study assessed the concept of health literacy as a potential determinant of knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and screening practices among female undergraduates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 female undergraduates at a university in southwest Nigeria. A validated questionnaire composed of subscales on nine components of health literacy, knowledge of cervical cancer prevention, and cervical cancer screening practices was used for data collection. The majority of the respondents obtained a high score on most of the components of health literacy and 66% had good knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Only 11% demonstrated good practices of Pap smear testing. Of all the components of health literacy, “feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers” (OR = 0.075; 95% CI [0.036–0.115]; p = 0.015) and “understanding health information well enough to know what to do” (OR = 0.055; 95% CI [0.006–0.104]; p = 0.029) were significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Out of the major challenges related to cervical cancer screening among undergraduates, the feeling of being at risk (OR = 4.71; p < 0.05) and uncomfortable experiences from past screening (OR = 0.12; p < 0.05) were significantly associated with going for cervical cancer screening. The study concluded that levels of health literacy influenced knowledge of cervical cancer prevention among female undergraduates, but it did not affect their engagement in cervical cancer screening practices.

Family-Centered Sexual Health Intervention to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Low-income Rural Women in India: A Community-Based Protocol study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandana Vahabi ◽  
Aisha K Lofters ◽  
Gauravi Mishra ◽  
Sharmila Pimple ◽  
Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Cancer Mortality ◽  
Pap Test ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cervical Cancer Mortality ◽  
Family Centered

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer, which is preventable through screening and early treatment. The Papanicolaou (Pap) test and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), traditionally performed at the clinical setting, have been used effectively to screen for cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes, and reduce cervical cancer mortality in high-income countries for many decades. However, these screening methods are not easily accessible to women living in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC), especially women living in rural areas. OBJECTIVE Preventing Cervical Cancer in India through Self-Sampling (PCCIS) is a community-based family-centered research project that aims to reduce avoidable cervical cancer disparities in rural area in India. The project will use HPV self-sampling, supported by a sexual health literacy intervention to increase rural women’s participation in cervical cancer screening. The objectives are to determine the effectiveness of this program in: (a) increasing sexual health literacy; (b) reducing gendered stigma of HPV and cervical cancer; (c) promoting cervical cancer screening using HPV self-sampling. METHODS We will recruit 120 women aged 30-69, who are under or never screened (UNS) for cervical cancer along with 120 supportive male relatives or friends from 3 impoverished rural / tribal villages in Palghar district in the state of Maharashtra, India. Participants will attend gender-specific sexual health education (SHE) followed by a Movie Matinee. Data will be collected though an interviewer-administered questionnaire before and after SHE. The questionnaire will include items on social demographics, medical history, attitudes, sexual health stigma, cervical cancer knowledge, and screening practices. Women will self-select whether to use HPV self-sampling. Those who do not may or may not undergo Pap test/VIA. Participants’ views regarding barriers and facilitators and suggestions to improve access and uptake will also be elicited. RESULTS PCCIS was funded in January 2020 for 15 months. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the project was extended by one year. The protocol was approved by the research ethics boards of Ryerson University (REB 2020-104) and Tata Memorial Center (OIEC/3786/2021 /00003). Study outcome measures will include changes in knowledge/attitudes about cervical cancer screening, proportion of participants who self-select into each cohort, proportion of positive test result in each cohort- and proportion of participants with confirmed cervical cancer. Women’s experiences related to barriers and facilitators associated with the screening uptake will be captured. CONCLUSIONS This multi-faceted work could lead to reduced cervical cancer mortality and morbidity, and increased community capacity in sexual health promotion and cervical cancer prevention. Insights and lessons learned from this project can be used to inform the adaptation and scale-up of HPV self-sampling among women across India and in other countries, promote collective commitment to family-centred wellness, and support women to make healthful, personalized cervical screening decisions. CLINICALTRIAL Not Applicable

scholarly journals Reproductive Health Status of Married Women Participating In Cervical Cancer Screening In Kathmandu

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
Ang Tshering Sherpa ◽  
Neeti Singh ◽  
Manisha Bajracharya ◽  
Amita Pradhan ◽  
Peru Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Complete Set

Background: Reproductive health of women has been the central agenda of Cairo conference since its inception in 1999. As a signatory country for Cairo Conference, Nepal government is also committed for reproductive rights for Nepalese women. Despite this, reproductive health challenges do exist in Nepal. This prompted us to determine the reproductive health status of married women attending in cervical cancer screening in Kath­mandu. Methods: Cross sectional study was designed to include retrospective data of married women, obtained during cervical cancer screening camp conducted by KIST Medical College at Laga Khala Clinic, Lagan, Kathmandu on 12-02- 2017. Among married women (131) attended cervical 100 wom­en’s records with complete set of data for reproductive health variables required for the study were included in this study. Statistical analysis was done descriptively. Results: Participant’s age is between 21 years to 61 years, 83% are liter­ate and 46% are employed. Adolescence marriage and pregnancy were two main problems noted. Cervical examination in relation showed 3% (3) VIA positive, 33% (33) Cervicitis, 10% (10) cervical polyp, 7% (7) atrophic vaginitis, 4% (4) cervical erosion and 43% (43) healthy cervix. Regarding Knowledge about risk factor majority 92% (92) had either no knowledge or only some extent of knowledge. Conclusions: Married women who lives in Kathmandu has significant re­productive health problem. Urban health program should address these issues.

scholarly journals A descriptive analysis of health practices, barriers to healthcare and the unmet need for cervical cancer screening in the Lower Napo River region of the Peruvian Amazon

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 174550651989096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph H Collins ◽  
Diana Bowie ◽  
Geordan Shannon
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Community Based ◽  
River Region ◽  
Screening Services

Objectives: To undertake an descriptive analysis of the health needs, healthcare practices and barriers to accessing healthcare faced by women in Lower Napo River Region, Peru, and to understand health literacy regarding cervical cancer and the need for more effective cervical cancer screening services. Methods: We performed a community-based needs assessment adapting Demographic and Health survey methodology with additional questions determining female health literacy on cervical cancer and assessing the availability and need for cervical cancer screening services. We surveyed women (N = 121) across all households in six communities along the Lower Napo River, Loreto, Peru, in May 2015. Data were collected as part of the larger Amazon Community Based Participation Cervical Cancer Screen-and-Treat Programme. Survey data were compared to national results from ENDES 2014. Results: Comparison between our findings and the ENDES 2014 survey highlighted considerable inequality between indigenous or mixed indigenous, rural populations in Loreto, Peru, and national population data averages over level of formal education, literacy, barriers to accessing healthcare and maternal and sexual health. Even though only 5.9% (N = 7/117) of women had no formal health insurance coverage, money was reported as the leading barrier accessing healthcare (N = 88/117, 75.2%). Health literacy regarding cervical and breast cancer was poor. A high proportion of women highlighted fear of screening processes (70.8%, N = 80/113) and lack of available services (53.6%, N = 60/112) as barriers to cervical cancer screening. Conclusion: Although progress has been made in improving healthcare access in Peru, such gains have not been experienced equitably and women living in remote communities face persistent marginalization regarding their health. There is a significant need for education related to and screening for cervical cancer in this region that is tailored to the reality of women’s lives in remote communities in Loreto.

scholarly journals “Cervical cancer screening: awareness is not enough”. Understanding barriers to screening among women in West Cameroon—a qualitative study using focus groups.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alida Manoëla Datchoua Moukam ◽  
Muriel Samartha Embolo Owono ◽  
Bruno Kenfack ◽  
Pierre Vassilakos ◽  
Patrick Petignat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Health Concern

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in sub-Saharan countries, constituting a major public health concern. In Cameroon, cervical cancer ranks as the second most common type of cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, mainly due to the lack of prevention. Objectives Our first and main objective was to understand the barriers affecting women’s decision-making process regarding participation in a cervical cancer screening program in the Dschang district (West Cameroon). Second, we aimed to explore the acceptability and perception of a single-visit approach (screen and treat). Methods A qualitative study using focus groups (FGs) was conducted from February to March 2020. Female participants aged between 30 and 49 years and their male partners were invited to participate. Thematic analysis was used, and barriers were classified according to the three-delay model of Thaddeus and Maine. Results In total, six FGs with 43 participants (31 women and 12 men) were conducted. The most important barriers were lack of health literacy, low accessibility of the program (in respect to cost and distance), and disrespectful treatment by healthcare workers. Conclusions Our study identified three needs: (1) enhancing health literacy; (2) improving the delivery of cervical cancer screening in rural areas; and (3) providing training for healthcare providers and community healthcare workers to improve patient-provider-communication. Trial registration Ethical Cantonal Board of Geneva, Switzerland (CCER, N°2017-0110 and CER-amendment n°3) and Cameroonian National Ethics Committee for Human Health Research (N°2018/07/1083/CE/CNERSH/SP). NCT: 03757299

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