Perceptions of Midwives on Pap Smear Tests during Pregnancy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to explore and describe perceptions of midwives on Papanicolaou (Pap smear) test during pregnancy. METHODS: The study used qualitative, exploratory type of design. A probability purposive sampling was used to sample 12 registered midwives based in gynaecological units in a public hospital in Tshwane District, South Africa. Open-ended questionnaires, field notes, and audio tape were used to collect data. Data analysis process involved grouping and categorization into themes and sub-themes. RESULTS: This study showed that majority of midwives lacked scientific knowledge behind Pap smear test during pregnancy. Some of the participants could relate with the test and verbalized that there may be complications such as bleeding, which may lead to miscarriage. CONCLUSIONS: Findings showed that midwives were not performing Pap smear tests among pregnant women due lack of knowledge. This points out that Pap smear test is not prioritised as a secondary preventive tool at facility level. It is therefore recommended that refresher workshops be conducted at hospital level.

[New strategies for the prevention and control of cervical cancer in Chile.] / Nuevas estrategias de prevención y control de cáncer de cuello uterino en Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss cervical cancer (CC), Human PapillomaVirus (HPV),CC control program and propose alternatives for Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the national program of CC 1966-2015 and the clinical CC guideline 2015-2020;HPV prevalence in women and in cases of CC; HPV infection and serology; the self-vaginal sample; the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of screening with HPV versus Papanicolaou,and triage options among HPV-AR positives. RESULTS: 600 women die of CC each year in Chile, mainly from low resources. Papanicolaou coverage is <70%; Papanicolaou sensitivity is much lowerthan HPV test.Change from Papanicolaou to HPV test is cost-effective. Since 2015, girls under 13 have been vaccinated against HPV. CONCLUSIONS: .There are the technical and economic conditions for a substantial improvement of CC in Chile: replacement of the Papanicolaou by HPV; screening every five years, with the option of self-sampling, and triage based on HPV 16/18 or Papanicolaou typing.

OBJETIVO: Discutir el cáncer cervicouterino (CC), el virus del papiloma humano (VPH),el programa de control del CC y proponer alternativas para Chile. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se analiza el programa nacional del CC 1966-2015 y la guía clínica 2015-2020, la prevalencia deVPH en mujeres y en casos de CC; la infección y serología deVPH; la autotoma; la precisión y rentabilidad del tamizaje con VPH contra el Papanicolaou y las opciones de triaje enVPH AR positivas. RESULTADOS: En Chile mueren 600 mujeres (principalmente de bajos recursos) al año por CC. La cobertura del Papanicolaou es <70%, sensibilidad muy inferior al test de VPH, por lo que el cambio esrentable.Desde 2015 se vacuna contraVPH a niñas menores de 13 años. CONCLUSIONES: Las condiciones técnicas y económicas existen en Chile para lograr una mejoría sustancial del CC:se sugiere el reemplazo del Papanicolaou por el examen deVPH;tamizaje cada cinco años con opción de autotoma; triaje con base en la tipificación deVPH 16/18 o Papanicolaou.

Barreras percibidas por el personal de salud para la toma de la citología cervical en mujeres zapotecas de Juchitán, Oaxaca / Perceived barriers by health care professionals to cervical cancer screening in indigenous women of Juchitan, Oaxaca

Antecedentes: El cáncer cervicouterino (CaCU) representa un problema de salud pública en México. Las mujeres indígenas presentan mayor riesgo de morir por esta enfermedad. El estudio sobre las barreras que afronta la población indígena mexicana para la toma de la citología cervical es escaso. Propósitos: Objetivo: Identificar las barreras estructurales, psicosociales y culturales percibidas por el personal de salud para la toma de la citología cervical en mujeres juchitecas. Método: Tipo de estudio: exploratorio-descriptivo de corte cualitativo. Se aplicaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a personal sanitario de centros de salud públicos y privados de Juchitán. Muestreo intencional por cuotas, 9 participantes, 7 clínicas elegidas al azar. Se realizó análisis de contenido. Resultados: Se identificaron barreras estructurales, psicosociales y culturales. Las principales: tardanza en entrega de resultados, falta de material, espacios para la toma y recursos humanos, alto nivel de desinformación sobre la prueba y la enfermedad, miedo a tener algo "malo" y al dolor, el tabú de la sexualidad, la actitud de la pareja hacia la prueba, prejuicios y falta de traductores que apoyen en la comunicación entre las mujeres y el personal del sistema de salud. Conclusiones: Existe desinformación sobre el CaCu y su detección oportuna en esta población; hay múltiples barreras de tipo estructural, prejuicios y mitos rodean la enfermedad. Se detectó desinterés por parte del sistema de salud en la promoción de programas preventivos del CaCu. Informar a la población en su lengua, cuidar y ser empáticos ante la exposición del cuerpo y diseñar políticas de salud incluyentes, son aspectos fundamentales a considerar y desarrollar en programas locales (AU)

Background: Cervical cancer is a public health problem in Mexico. Rural and Indigenous women have a higher risk of dying from this disease. The study of the barriers to cervical cancer screening in indigenous population in Mexico is limited. Purpose: Objective: To identify structural, psychosocial and cultural barriers perceived by health care professionals to cervical cancer screening in indigenous women of Juchitán. Method: Exploratory-descriptive study with qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews with health care professionals in public and private centers in Juchitán were conducted. Intentional sampling by quotas was used. There were 9 participants in 7 randomly selected clinics. Content analysis was performed. Results: Structural, psychosocial and cultural barriers were identified. Delay in delivery of results, lack of materials, specific spaces and human resources, misinformation, fear of receiving "bad news" and fear of pain, sexuality taboos, partner´s attitudes related to the test, prejudices and lack of translators who support the communication between the women and the personnel in the health system, were the most salient barriers to screening. Conclusions: There is misinformation about cervical cancer and screening in this population; prejudices and myths about the disease were reported. There was a lack of interest on the part of health workers in the promotion of preventive cervical cancer programs, even showing discriminatory behavior. Informing the population in their language, caring and being empathetic before the body's exposure and designing inclusive health policies are fundamental aspects to consider and develop in local programs (AU)

Quality of cervical cancer screening in Brazil: external assessment of the PMAQ.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether demographic and socioeconomic variables and the variables of the organization of services are associated with the quality of cervical cancer screening. METHODS: This is a survey carried out in the health services of the five Brazilian regions in 2012. The sample consisted of users of basic health units participating in the Program for Improving Access and Quality of the Primary Care. The independent variables analyzed were: socioeconomic characteristics (municipal context), demographic characteristics (user profile), and two domains related to the organization of basic services (work structure and process). The low quality of the screening was assessed from the lack of access, late examination, and lack of guidance. Crude and adjusted analyses by Poisson regression assessed the association between outcomes and independent variables. RESULTS: The values of lack of access, late examination, and lack of guidance were 6.7%, 11.2%, and 19.2%, respectively. Problems of quality were lower according to the increase in Municipal Human Development Index and per capita household income, increasing with population size and municipal coverage of the Family Health Strategy. The Midwest region of the country presented the highest occurrences of low quality outcomes. Indigenous and yellow women had the highest prevalence of outcomes. Women with partner, who received the Bolsa Família Program, and who had paid work had less chances of having lack of access, late examination, and lack of guidance. The appropriate work process in health services decreased the likelihood of low quality in all indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Investments in the work process of health teams, social cash transfer programs, and social conditions of the population are essential to improve the quality of the program of cervical cancer screening in Brazil. OBJETIVO: Analisar se as variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas e da organização dos serviços estão associadas à qualidade do rastreamento do câncer de colo uterino. MÉTODOS: Inquérito realizado em serviços de saúde das cinco regiões brasileiras em 2012. A amostra foi composta por usuárias de unidades básicas de saúde participantes do Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade na Atenção Básica. As variáveis independentes analisadas foram: características socioeconômicas (contexto municipal); características demográficas (perfil de usuárias); e dois domínios relativos à organização dos serviços básicos (estrutura e processo de trabalho). A baixa qualidade do rastreamento foi avaliada por meio da falta de acesso, atraso na realização do exame e falta de recebimento de orientações. Análises bruta e ajustada por meio de regressão de Poisson avaliaram a associação entre os desfechos e as variáveis independentes. RESULTADOS: A falta de acesso, atraso na realização do exame e falta de recebimento de orientações foram de 6,7%, 11,2% e 19,2%, respectivamente. Os problemas de qualidade foram menores de acordo com o aumento do Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal e da renda familiar per capita, aumentando com o porte populacional e a cobertura municipal da Estratégia Saúde da Família. A região Centro-Oeste do país apresentou as maiores ocorrências dos desfechos de baixa qualidade. As mulheres de raça indígena e amarela tiveram as maiores prevalências dos desfechos. As mulheres com companheiro, que recebiam o benefício do Programa Bolsa Família e tinham trabalho remunerado tiveram menos falta de acesso, menos atraso na realização do exame e menos falta de recebimento de orientações. O processo de trabalho adequado nos serviços de saúde diminuiu a probabilidade de baixa qualidade em todos os indicadores. CONCLUSÕES: Investimentos em processo de trabalho das equipes de saúde, programas sociais de transferência de renda e condições sociais da população são essenciais para melhorar a qualidade do programa de rastreamento de colo de útero no Brasil.

Single Health System Adherence to 2012 Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines at Extremes of Age and Posthysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of guideline nonadherent Pap tests in women aged younger than 21 years and older than 65 years and posthysterectomy in a single large health system. Secondary objectives were to describe temporal trends and patient and health care provider characteristics associated with screening in these groups. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional chart review was performed at Fairview Health Services and University of Minnesota Physicians. Reasons for testing and patient and health care provider information were collected. Tests were designated as indicated or nonindicated per the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines. Point estimates and descriptive statistics were calculated. Patient and health care provider characteristics were compared between indicated and nonindicated groups using χ and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: A total of 3,920 Pap tests were performed between September 9, 2012, and August 31, 2014. A total of 257 (51%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 46.1-54.9%) of tests in the younger than 21 years group, 536 (40%; 95% CI 37.7-43.1%) in the older than 65 years group, and 605 (29%; 95% CI 27.1-31.0%) in the posthysterectomy group were not indicated. White race in the older than 65 years group was the only patient characteristic associated with receipt of a nonindicated Pap test (P=.007). Health care provider characteristics associated with nonindicated Pap tests varied by screening group. Temporal trends showed a decrease in the proportion of nonindicated tests in the younger than 21 years group but an increase in the posthysterectomy group. CONCLUSION: For women aged younger than 21 years and older than 65 years and posthysterectomy, 35% of Pap tests performed in our health system were not guideline-adherent. There were no patient or health care provider characteristics associated with guideline nonadherent screening across all groups.

Quality of cervical cancer screening in Brazil: external assessment of the PMAQ / Qualidade do rastreamento do câncer de colo uterino no Brasil: avaliação externa do PMAQ

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To examine whether demographic and socioeconomic variables and the variables of the organization of services are associated with the quality of cervical cancer screening. METHODS This is a survey carried out in the health services of the five Brazilian regions in 2012. The sample consisted of users of basic health units participating in the Program for Improving Access and Quality of the Primary Care. The independent variables analyzed were: socioeconomic characteristics (municipal context), demographic characteristics (user profile), and two domains related to the organization of basic services (work structure and process). The low quality of the screening was assessed from the lack of access, late examination, and lack of guidance. Crude and adjusted analyses by Poisson regression assessed the association between outcomes and independent variables. RESULTS The values of lack of access, late examination, and lack of guidance were 6.7%, 11.2%, and 19.2%, respectively. Problems of quality were lower according to the increase in Municipal Human Development Index and per capita household income, increasing with population size and municipal coverage of the Family Health Strategy. The Midwest region of the country presented the highest occurrences of low quality outcomes. Indigenous and yellow women had the highest prevalence of outcomes. Women with partner, who received the Bolsa Família Program, and who had paid work had less chances of having lack of access, late examination, and lack of guidance. The appropriate work process in health services decreased the likelihood of low quality in all indicators. CONCLUSIONS Investments in the work process of health teams, social cash transfer programs, and social conditions of the population are essential to improve the quality of the program of cervical cancer screening in Brazil.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Analisar se as variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas e da organização dos serviços estão associadas à qualidade do rastreamento do câncer de colo uterino. MÉTODOS Inquérito realizado em serviços de saúde das cinco regiões brasileiras em 2012. A amostra foi composta por usuárias de unidades básicas de saúde participantes do Programa de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade na Atenção Básica. As variáveis independentes analisadas foram: características socioeconômicas (contexto municipal); características demográficas (perfil de usuárias); e dois domínios relativos à organização dos serviços básicos (estrutura e processo de trabalho). A baixa qualidade do rastreamento foi avaliada por meio da falta de acesso, atraso na realização do exame e falta de recebimento de orientações. Análises bruta e ajustada por meio de regressão de Poisson avaliaram a associação entre os desfechos e as variáveis independentes. RESULTADOS A falta de acesso, atraso na realização do exame e falta de recebimento de orientações foram de 6,7%, 11,2% e 19,2%, respectivamente. Os problemas de qualidade foram menores de acordo com o aumento do Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal e da renda familiar per capita, aumentando com o porte populacional e a cobertura municipal da Estratégia Saúde da Família. A região Centro-Oeste do país apresentou as maiores ocorrências dos desfechos de baixa qualidade. As mulheres de raça indígena e amarela tiveram as maiores prevalências dos desfechos. As mulheres com companheiro, que recebiam o benefício do Programa Bolsa Família e tinham trabalho remunerado tiveram menos falta de acesso, menos atraso na realização do exame e menos falta de recebimento de orientações. O processo de trabalho adequado nos serviços de saúde diminuiu a probabilidade de baixa qualidade em todos os indicadores. CONCLUSÕES Investimentos em processo de trabalho das equipes de saúde, programas sociais de transferência de renda e condições sociais da população são essenciais para melhorar a qualidade do programa de rastreamento de colo de útero no Brasil.

Journey of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in a Developing Country over 5 Years (2010 - 2015).

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection with serious medical, sexual, and relationship consequences. HPV vaccine protection is available globally but unfortunately vaccine uptake is inconsistent everywhere. From this study, it was observed that the awareness of cervical cancer, HPV virus and HPV vaccination in Malaysia is high, at 83.1%, 73.9% and 73.3% of respondents, respectively. However, a considerably low percentage had undergone HPV vaccination (8.6%) compared to those who had experienced a Pap smear (32.9%). Awareness between cervical cancer and HPV virus and vaccination was low. Health care providers and the governing bodies have to play a vital role in disseminating holistic information on the vaccine and the importance of getting vaccinated to the public more vigorously in Malaysia.

Is complementary and alternative medicine use associated with cancer screening rates for women with functional disabilities?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use with mammogram and Pap test rates and functional disabilities (FDs). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data were derived from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (n=6576). ANALYSIS: FDs was defined as physical and/or social limitations. The weighted logistic regression models were performed using SAS software. Study covariates were age, race, education, marital status, usual source of care, and insurance. RESULTS: Of 6576 women, a majority were Caucasian (87%), with GED or less (40%), married (50%), having usual source of care (96%) and health insurance (91%), and with FDs (56%). The results indicated that some CAM practices were negatively associated with increased mammogram and Pap test rates while other CAM practices were positively associated. The results indicated that CAM practices that contribute to musculoskeletal problems such as acupuncture and massage were associated with the increased mammogram and Pap test rates. Contrary, women who used chiropractic manipulation, biofeedback, guided imagery, and energy hearing therapy were less likely to obtain cancer screenings regularly regardless of having FDs. CONCLUSIONS: The use of several CAM therapies was more likely to be associated with mammogram and Pap test frequency, indicating that the CAM use may be associated with better screening rates due to the improvement of musculoskeletal problems. It is important to determine how each CAM therapy improves secondary health conditions in clinical trials to increase cancer screening rates for women with FDs.

The organization and financing of cervical cancer prevention carried out by midwives in primary health care.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the project was the evaluation of the organizational and financial aspects of midwives in primary health care (PHC), functioning under The Population Program for the Early Detection of Cervical Cancer two years after the implementation of new law regulations, which enable this occupational group to collect cytological material for screening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Under this project, the data of the Program's Coordinating Centre, affecting midwives' postgraduate education in the field of pap smear tests, was taken into analysis. Furthermore, The National Health Fund (NFZ) reports on contracts entered in the field of the discussed topics, taking into consideration the value of health services performed within the Program in respect of ambulatory care and primary care units. RESULTS: NFZ concluded contracts for the provision of PHC service with 6124 service providers in 2016, including the contracts in the field of providing health services under the cervical cancer prevention program by PHC midwifes, which were entered into by 358 institutions (5.85%). The value of the basic services under the Program, carried out under NFZ contracts in 2014, amounted to approx. PLN 12.3 million, while the value of services performed by PHC midwives represented only 0.38% of this sum. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of legislative changes, allowing PHC midwives to collect cytological material for screening, did not cause, in the period of the observation on a national scale, the expected growth of availability of basic stage services within the cervical cancer prevention program.

Anal Pap Screening for HIV-infected Men Who Have Sex With Men: Practice Improvement.

HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) have the highest rates of anal dysplasia and anal cancer when compared to HIV-uninfected MSM and when compared to HIV-infected heterosexual men and women. Despite significantly increasing rates of anal dysplasia and anal cancer in HIV-infected MSM, in many settings, no standard protocol is in place to screen for anal dysplasia in this high-risk group. A practice improvement project was conducted at a primary care health center to educate the HIV health care team about anal Pap screening in an effort to increase provider knowledge and rates of anal Pap screening performed as part of primary comprehensive care for HIV-infected MSM. Increased health care provider knowledge of anal Pap screening within this setting resulted in increased anal Pap screening for HIV-infected MSM. Routine screening leads to improved surveillance and treatment of precancerous lesions, decreasing morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected MSM.