Lessons learnt from pilot cervical cancer screening and treatment programmes integrated to routine primary health care services in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in collaboration with the ministries of health of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, conducted a pilot study integrating cervical cancer screen-and-treat services in each country, to assess the challenges of implementing them as part of routine primary care. The study was published in the journal JCO Global Oncology.

The study reveals several strengths and weaknesses of opportunistic screening through primary health-care centres. A large number of women can be screened with such an approach, and more than 60% of screen-positive women could be offered immediate treatment with thermal ablation. The compliance with treatment at the screening facilities was very high, and thermal ablation was very well tolerated by women. However, compliance was low among women referred to colposcopy centres. Also, some providers complained of an increased workload, and women not attending primary health centres could not be reached.

Of the total number of reported deaths from cervical cancer per year worldwide, about 80% occur in low- and middle-income countries, largely due to the lack of effective cervical cancer screening programmes. This study provides evidence that low- and middle-income countries could establish opportunistic screening services provided as part of routine primary health-care services to screen and treat a large number of women, with minimal side-effects.

Selmouni F, Sauvaget C, Dangbemey DP, Kpebo DDO, Dieng NM, Lucas E, et al.
Lessons learnt from pilot cervical cancer screening and treatment programmes integrated to routine primary health care services in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal
JCO Glob Oncol, Published online 7 September 2022;
https://doi.org/10.1200/go.22.00051

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