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Acceptance of peer navigators to reduce barriers to cervical cancer screening and treatment among women with HIV infection in Tanzania
Author(s) -
Koneru Alaya,
Jolly Pauline E.,
Blakemore Shaundra,
McCree Renicha,
Lisovicz Nedra F.,
Aris Eric A.,
Mtesigwa Thereza,
Yuma Safina,
Mwaiselage Julius D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12174
Subject(s) - medicine , tanzania , cervical cancer , cervical cancer screening , family medicine , cancer , cervical screening , gynecology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , dar es salaam , peer review , political science , law , environmental science , environmental planning
Objective To identify barriers to cervical cancer screening and treatment, and determine acceptance toward peer navigators ( PN s) to reduce barriers. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among women with HIV infection aged 19 years or older attending HIV clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between May and August 2012. Data for sociodemographic characteristics, barriers, knowledge and attitude toward cervical cancer screening and treatment, and PN s were collected by questionnaire. Results Among 399 participants, only 36 (9.0%) reported previous cervical cancer screening. A higher percentage of screened than unscreened women reported being told about screening by someone at the clinic (25/36 [69.4%] vs 132/363 [36.4%]; P= 0.002), knew that screening was free (30/36 [83.3%] vs 161/363 [44.4%]; P< 0.001), and obtained “good” cervical screening attitude scores (17/36 [47.2%] vs 66/363 [18.2%]; P= 0.001). Most women (382/399 [95.7%]) did not know about PN s. When told about PN s, 388 (97.5%) of 398 women said they would like assistance with explanation of medical terms, and 352 (88.2%) of 399 said they would like PN s to accompany them for cervical evaluation and/or treatment. Conclusion Use of PN s was highly acceptable and represents a novel approach to addressing barriers to cervical cancer screening and treatment.