• Kelly-Hanku, Angela
• Bolnga, John
• Badman, Steven G.
• Kuk, Joseph
• Vallely, Andrew J.
• Mola, Glen
• Camara, Hawa
• Munnull, Gloria
• Guy, Rebecca
• Nosi, Somu

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Background:</jats:bold> A field trial to evaluate a self-collect point-of-care HPV screen-and-treat (HPV S&amp;T) program was implemented in two Well Women Clinics in Papua New Guinea (Papua New Guinea). Assessing the acceptability of a health intervention is a core element of evaluation. In this study, we examined women’s acceptability of both self-collection and HPV S&amp;T intervention in Papua New Guinea. <jats:bold> </jats:bold><jats:bold>Methods:</jats:bold> Sixty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had undergone cervical screening in the same-day self-collected HPV screen-and-treat program in Madang and Western Highlands Provinces, Papua New Guinea. Data were thematically analysed using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) and managed using NVivo 12.5. <jats:bold> </jats:bold><jats:bold>Results:</jats:bold> Self-collection was highly acceptable to women as it meant they could forgo what was deemed a culturally embarrassing cervical examination. The provision of same-day results, and treatment if indicated, was particularly valued by the women because it reduced the financial and temporal burden to return to the clinic for results. It also meant they did not need to wait anxiously for long periods of time for their results. Women also appreciated the support from, and expertise of, health care workers throughout the process and spoke of trust in the HPV-DNA testing technology. The majority of women were willing to pay for the service to ensure its sustainability and timely scale-up throughout Papua New Guinea to support access for women in harder to reach areas. <jats:bold> </jats:bold><jats:bold>Conclusion:</jats:bold> This study reported very high levels of acceptability from a field trial of self-collection and HPV same-day screen-and-treat. The program was deemed culturally congruent and time efficient. As the cervical screening program is taken to scale across Papua New Guinea ensuring ongoing acceptability of the program will be needed. Further research will be required for additional insights into the program’s acceptability in Papua New Guinea and other high-burden settings. This innovative cervical screening modality could be the ‘solution’ needed to see wider and more immediate impact and improved outcomes for women in Papua New Guinea and other high-burden, low-resource settings.</jats:p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy