HPV testing: a mixed-method approach to understand why women prefer self-collection in a middle-income country

• Autores: Arrossi, Silvina; Ramos, Silvina; Straw, Cecilia; Thouyaret, Laura; Orellana, Liliana
• Año de publicación: 2016
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Argentina; HPV testing; Self--collection; Acceptability
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Background: HPV test self-collection has been shown to reduce barriers to cervical screening and increase uptake. However, little is known about women?s preferences when given the choice between self-collected and clinician-collected tests. This paper aims to describe experiences with HPV self-collection among women in Jujuy, the first Argentinean province to have introduced HPV testing as the primary screening method, provided free of cost in all public health centers.
Methods: Between July and December 2012, data on acceptability of HPV self-collection and several social variables including past screening were collected from 2616 self-collection accepters and 433 non-accepters, and were analyzed using multivariate regression. In addition, in-depth interviews (n = 30) and 2 focus groups
were carried out and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Quantitative findings indicate that main reasons for choosing self-collection are those reducing barriers related to women?s roles of responsibility for domestic work and work/family organization, and to health care services? organization. No social variables were significantly associated with acceptability. Among those who preferred clinician-collection, the main reasons were trust in health professionals and fear of hurting themselves. Qualitative findings also showed that self-collection allows women to overcome barriers related to the health system (i.e. long wait times), without sacrificing time devoted to work/domestic responsibilities.
Conclusions: Findings have implications for self-collection recommendations, as they show it is the preferred method when women are given the choice, even if they are not screening non-attenders. Findings also highlight the importance of incorporating women?s needs/preferences in HPV screening recommendations.
Fil: Arrossi, Silvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad; Argentina
Fil: Ramos, Silvina. Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad; Argentina
Fil: Straw, Cecilia. Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Thouyaret, Laura. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación ; Argentina
Fil: Orellana, Liliana. Deakin University; Australia