Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Cervical cancer is a prevalent disease among women, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where most deaths occur. Integrating cervical cancer screening services into healthcare facilities is essential in combating the disease. Thus, this review aims to map evidence related to inte...

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Main Authors: Rahel Nega Kassa, Desalegn Markos Shifti, Kassahun Alemu, Akinyinka O Omigbodun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0003183&type=printable
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author Rahel Nega Kassa
Desalegn Markos Shifti
Kassahun Alemu
Akinyinka O Omigbodun
author_facet Rahel Nega Kassa
Desalegn Markos Shifti
Kassahun Alemu
Akinyinka O Omigbodun
author_sort Rahel Nega Kassa
collection DOAJ
description Cervical cancer is a prevalent disease among women, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where most deaths occur. Integrating cervical cancer screening services into healthcare facilities is essential in combating the disease. Thus, this review aims to map evidence related to integrating cervical cancer screening into existing primary care services and identify associated barriers and facilitators in LMICs. The scoping review employed a five-step framework as proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. Five databases (MEDLINE, Maternity Infant Care, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science) were systematically searched. Data were extracted, charted, synthesized, and summarised. A total of 28 original articles conducted in LMICs from 2000 to 2023 were included. Thirty-nine percent of the reviewed studies showed that cervical cancer screening (CCS) was integrated into HIV clinics. The rest of the papers revealed that CCS was integrated into existing reproductive and sexual health clinics, maternal and child health, family planning, well-baby clinics, maternal health clinics, gynecology outpatient departments, and sexually transmitted infections clinics. The cost-effectiveness of integrated services, promotion, and international initiatives were identified as facilitators while resource scarcity, lack of skilled staff, high client loads, lack of preventive oncology policy, territorial disputes, and lack of national guidelines were identified as barriers to the services. The evidence suggests that CCS can be integrated into healthcare facilities in LMICs, in various primary care services, including HIV clinics, reproductive and sexual health clinics, well-baby clinics, maternal health clinics, and gynecology OPDs. However, barriers include limited health system capacity, workload, waiting times, and lack of coordination. Addressing these gaps could strengthen the successful integration of CCS into primary care services and improve cervical cancer prevention and treatment outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-eb23ccd7a2b5467d881f98242c7770c42025-02-05T05:50:31ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752024-01-0145e000318310.1371/journal.pgph.0003183Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.Rahel Nega KassaDesalegn Markos ShiftiKassahun AlemuAkinyinka O OmigbodunCervical cancer is a prevalent disease among women, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where most deaths occur. Integrating cervical cancer screening services into healthcare facilities is essential in combating the disease. Thus, this review aims to map evidence related to integrating cervical cancer screening into existing primary care services and identify associated barriers and facilitators in LMICs. The scoping review employed a five-step framework as proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. Five databases (MEDLINE, Maternity Infant Care, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science) were systematically searched. Data were extracted, charted, synthesized, and summarised. A total of 28 original articles conducted in LMICs from 2000 to 2023 were included. Thirty-nine percent of the reviewed studies showed that cervical cancer screening (CCS) was integrated into HIV clinics. The rest of the papers revealed that CCS was integrated into existing reproductive and sexual health clinics, maternal and child health, family planning, well-baby clinics, maternal health clinics, gynecology outpatient departments, and sexually transmitted infections clinics. The cost-effectiveness of integrated services, promotion, and international initiatives were identified as facilitators while resource scarcity, lack of skilled staff, high client loads, lack of preventive oncology policy, territorial disputes, and lack of national guidelines were identified as barriers to the services. The evidence suggests that CCS can be integrated into healthcare facilities in LMICs, in various primary care services, including HIV clinics, reproductive and sexual health clinics, well-baby clinics, maternal health clinics, and gynecology OPDs. However, barriers include limited health system capacity, workload, waiting times, and lack of coordination. Addressing these gaps could strengthen the successful integration of CCS into primary care services and improve cervical cancer prevention and treatment outcomes.https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0003183&type=printable
spellingShingle Rahel Nega Kassa
Desalegn Markos Shifti
Kassahun Alemu
Akinyinka O Omigbodun
Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
title_full Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
title_fullStr Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
title_full_unstemmed Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
title_short Integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.
title_sort integration of cervical cancer screening into healthcare facilities in low and middle income countries a scoping review
url https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0003183&type=printable
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