Join HIFA today to ensure you are part of the discussion! 
We are delighted to announce a new collaborative project between the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on Noncommunicable Diseases and HIFA: Understanding information needs for improving uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment.
The project brings together health workers, policymakers, researchers, advocates and others worldwide to share examples of information needs, perceptions and misinformation across different settings, and to explore how these issues may influence public trust, health-seeking behaviours and the uptake of cervical cancer screening, treatment and follow-up services.
The discussion starts officially on 19 October and will continue through to 30 November. Over six weeks, we shall draw on the experience and expertise of HIFA forum members to generate practical insights on how we can improve the uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment.
The discussion is timed to include World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day on 17 November, when HIFA will share emerging themes from the first four weeks during a WHO webinar. Participants will then be invited to continue the conversation and contribute further perspectives during the final two weeks.
Spread the word and invite others to join HIFA today and be part of this global conversation! Join HIFA (free!)
Guiding questions (under review)
1. In your experience, how is cervical cancer generally perceived in your community, workplace, or professional setting? What concerns, beliefs, or attitudes stand out to you most?
2. What questions about cervical cancer screening or treatment do people most often ask you?
3. Have you encountered any information, beliefs, or messages about cervical cancer, screening or treatment that you consider inaccurate, misleading, or confusing?
4. Can you share an example where information or misinformation influenced someone's decision to seek (or avoid) screening?
5. What sources of cervical cancer information do you or people in your setting rely on most? Which sources are especially helpful, and where do you see important gaps or weaknesses?
6. Can you suggest one recommendation to help ensure that every person has access to reliable information on cervical cancer?
We welcome your thoughts on any of the above (and more). You can contribute by email from today onwards. Email: hifa@hifaforums.org
Insights from the discussion will be synthesised in a report to help inform future advocacy and knowledge products on cervical cancer screening and treatment.
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease and highly curable when detected early and treated appropriately. Major advances have strengthened the tools available across the cervical cancer prevention and care pathway, from HPV vaccination to improved approaches for screening, timely treatment and follow-up. Yet in many settings, the uptake of screening and treatment services remains suboptimal, limiting opportunities for early detection, timely care and prevention of avoidable deaths.
While substantial research and implementation efforts have focused on HPV vaccination as a critical component of cervical cancer prevention, comparatively less attention has been given to understanding the barriers and perceptions that influence the uptake of screening and treatment.
Misinformation about cervical cancer screening and treatment can fuel fear, stigma, mistrust and undermine confidence in health services. As screening and treatment primarily target adult women, barriers related to information, trust, stigma, and service navigation may have a significant influence on whether women seek screening, return for results, and access timely treatment or referral. These issues are also relevant for health workers and policymakers, who shape how services are communicated, delivered, prioritised and linked across the care pathway.
HIFA Project: Understanding information needs for improving uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment
This project aims to improve the collective understanding of misinformation, perceptions and information needs related to cervical cancer screening and treatment, and thereby support more effective implementation strategies to accelerate progress towards the WHO Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination 90-70-90 targets.
The project will explore the following issues:
- What misinformation themes, perceptions and information needs related to cervical cancer screening and treatment are being observed across diverse settings, and what are their perceived implications for public trust, health seeking behaviours and uptake of services?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of cervical cancer information across the global evidence ecosystem?
- How can we better meet the information needs of the public? Health workers? Policymakers?
Format
Phase 1: HIFA discussion 19 October to 17 November: Exploring information needs, perceptions and misinformation related to cervical cancer screening and treatment.
Webinar: 17 November (including presentation of emerging themes from Phase 1) (date to be confirmed)
Phase 2: HIFA discussion 17-30 November: Explore remaining questions, reflect on emerging themes, and identify next steps.
Purpose
Learn more
- WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative
- Cervical cancer resources on the WHO Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs
The project recognises that information is only one factor influencing uptake. Other activities will seek to better understand how information interacts with the social, cultural and health-system factors that influence screening and treatment.
See also our Project page to learn more and get to know our working group members.
Contact: Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator neil@hifa.org