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Integrating cervical cancer screening and preventive treatment with family planning and HIV ‐related services
Author(s) -
White Heather L.,
Meglioli Alejandra,
Chowdhury Raveena,
Nuccio Olivia
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.12194
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical cancer , family planning , reproductive health , service (business) , service delivery framework , sustainability , process management , nursing , cancer , business , environmental health , marketing , population , ecology , research methodology , biology
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality in Sub‐Saharan Africa—in large part because of inadequate coverage of screening and preventive treatment services. A number of programs have begun integrating cervical cancer prevention services into existing family planning or HIV / AIDS service delivery platforms, to rapidly expand “screen and treat” programs and mitigate cervical cancer burden. Drawing upon a review of literature and our experiences, we consider benefits and challenges associated with such programs in Sub‐Saharan Africa. We then outline steps that can optimize uptake and sustainability of integrated sexual and reproductive health services. These include increasing coordination among implementing organizations for efficient use of resources; task shifting for services that can be provided by nonphysicians; mobilizing communities via trusted frontline health workers; strengthening management information systems to allow for monitoring of multiple services; and prioritizing an operational research agenda to provide further evidence on the cost‐effectiveness and benefits of integrated service delivery.