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 will bring together health workers, policymakers, researchers, advocates and others to share examples of misinformation, perceptions and information needs they are observing 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 will start officially on 19 October and continue through to 30 November. Over six weeks, we will 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.
Contributions are welcome at any time from 12 August. Email: hifa@hifaforums.org
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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 questions (additional questions are welcome):
- 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?
Insights from the discussion will be brought together in a report to help inform future advocacy and knowledge products on cervical cancer screening and treatment.
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.
Contact: Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator neil@hifa.org