Pairing community health workers with HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer prevention in rural Haiti. Issue 3 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mandigo, Morgan; Frett, Brigitte; Laurent, Jean Robert; Bishop, Ian; Raymondville, Maxi; Marsh, Sarah; Kobetz, Erin
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics. Volume 128:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 206
• Page End: 210
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.09.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7292

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="st0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="st0010">Objective</title> <p id="sp0005">To assess a program in which community health workers (CHWs) provided women with self-sampling devices to detect high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0015">Methods</title> <p id="sp0010">In a cross-sectional study, 13 CHWs visited homes in a rural area in Haiti's Central Plateau to recruit premenopausal women aged 30–50 years between July 2009 and April 2010. Eligible women had not undergone a cervical smear in the previous 3 years. Participants learned about cervical cancer and self-sampling for HPV testing before using a self-sampler in private. They then completed a questionnaire. CHWs later returned to provide results and advice about follow-up care.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0020">Results</title> <p id="sp0015">CHWs enrolled 493 women. Among the 485 women for whom questionnaires were received, 468 (96.5%) were comfortable using the self-sampler and 484 (99.8%) stated they would recommend it to others. Among 426 analyzed samples, 54 (12.7%) were positive for high-risk HPV, of whom 46 (85.2%) received follow-up care and 17 (31.5%) had precursor lesions and were treated.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp0020">Using a CHW-led intervention, women at high risk for developing cervical cancer were identified and navigated to preventive care. Therefore, pairing CHWs with HPV self-sampling is a promising strategy to combat cervical cancer in rural Haiti and similar settings.</p> </sec> </abstract>