Combining breast and cervical screening in an attempt to increase cervical screening uptake. An intervention study in a South African context

Abstract

During 2008-2009, only 4% of women targeted for cervical screening were screened in Tshwane, South Africa. The purpose of the study was to determine whether cervical screening uptake could be improved when breast and cervical screening are combined. An intervention research design was used. The intervention was assessed in terms of two outcomes, namely cervical screening uptake and the findings of the screening. The study was conducted in a resource poor environment in Tshwane. Convenience sampling was used to recruit the sample (n = 299) and a baseline survey was conducted before delivering the intervention. Only 14% of the sample (n = 299) reported having been screened for cervical cancer previously. The total sample (n = 299) were willing to have a clinical breast examination; however, only 65.4% of those eligible for cervical screening (n = 283) used the opportunity to be screened. The majority of the sample screened (n = 185) using acetic acid for visual inspection (VIA) were VIA negative; 12.4% were VIA positive and 4.4% were VIA positive, invasive cancer; the screening of 8.7% failed. Despite women's lack of knowledge of cervical cancer and the screening thereof, combining cervical screening and breast screening lead to an increase in cervical screening uptake.