Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences
Objective: Cervical cancer is preventable, and early diagnosis is possible using low-cost technologies, but a scant number of women receive cancer screening in Malawi. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers that influence the uptakes of cervical cancer screening behavior in Malawi. Me...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.apjon.org/article.asp?issn=2347-5625;year=2020;volume=7;issue=1;spage=18;epage=27;aulast=Lee |
| _version_ | 1797763527952302080 |
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| author | Haeok Lee Jasintha T Mtengezo Deogwoon Kim Mary Sue Makin Younhee Kang Address Malata Joyce Fitzpatrick |
| author_facet | Haeok Lee Jasintha T Mtengezo Deogwoon Kim Mary Sue Makin Younhee Kang Address Malata Joyce Fitzpatrick |
| author_sort | Haeok Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Cervical cancer is preventable, and early diagnosis is possible using low-cost technologies, but a scant number of women receive cancer screening in Malawi. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers that influence the uptakes of cervical cancer screening behavior in Malawi. Methods: A rapid ethnographic approach with the goal of optimizing planning for a future intervention study was utilized. Data were collected from three focus groups and seven individual interviews with adults in their communities, stakeholders, and health-care providers. Results: Three categories (sociocultural influences, access to the health-care system, and individual factors) have emerged as facilitators or barriers to cervical cancer screening among Malawian women. The findings also showed that cervical cancer screening behavior is situated socially through cultural and health-care services of a given community. Conclusions: Cancer screenings are only sought when illness symptoms persist or worsen. Awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening is low among both health-care providers and the general population. Health-care systems are donor driven and focus on a single disease, health-care access is the greatest challenge to cervical cancer screening, and health-care providers are not adequately prepared to work for rapid increase in the prevalence of cervical cancer. Integrating cervical cancer screening into the existing health-care system is sustainable way forward, and nurses prepared to handle cervical cancer management can play an essential role to promote cervical cancer screening in a health resource-constrained setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:42:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f27d63e1046b41599dcdd4051d3c96f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2347-5625 2349-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:42:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing |
| spelling | doaj.art-f27d63e1046b41599dcdd4051d3c96f92023-08-02T03:44:41ZengElsevierAsia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing2347-56252349-66732020-01-0171182710.4103/apjon.apjon_48_19Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal InfluencesHaeok LeeJasintha T MtengezoDeogwoon KimMary Sue MakinYounhee KangAddress MalataJoyce FitzpatrickObjective: Cervical cancer is preventable, and early diagnosis is possible using low-cost technologies, but a scant number of women receive cancer screening in Malawi. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers that influence the uptakes of cervical cancer screening behavior in Malawi. Methods: A rapid ethnographic approach with the goal of optimizing planning for a future intervention study was utilized. Data were collected from three focus groups and seven individual interviews with adults in their communities, stakeholders, and health-care providers. Results: Three categories (sociocultural influences, access to the health-care system, and individual factors) have emerged as facilitators or barriers to cervical cancer screening among Malawian women. The findings also showed that cervical cancer screening behavior is situated socially through cultural and health-care services of a given community. Conclusions: Cancer screenings are only sought when illness symptoms persist or worsen. Awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening is low among both health-care providers and the general population. Health-care systems are donor driven and focus on a single disease, health-care access is the greatest challenge to cervical cancer screening, and health-care providers are not adequately prepared to work for rapid increase in the prevalence of cervical cancer. Integrating cervical cancer screening into the existing health-care system is sustainable way forward, and nurses prepared to handle cervical cancer management can play an essential role to promote cervical cancer screening in a health resource-constrained setting.http://www.apjon.org/article.asp?issn=2347-5625;year=2020;volume=7;issue=1;spage=18;epage=27;aulast=Leebehaviorcervical cancer screeningcultureglobal health disparitieshivrapid ethnographyresource-limited settingswomen |
| spellingShingle | Haeok Lee Jasintha T Mtengezo Deogwoon Kim Mary Sue Makin Younhee Kang Address Malata Joyce Fitzpatrick Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing behavior cervical cancer screening culture global health disparities hiv rapid ethnography resource-limited settings women |
| title | Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences |
| title_full | Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences |
| title_short | Exploring Complicity of Cervical Cancer Screening in Malawi: The Interplay of Behavioral, Cultural, and Societal Influences |
| title_sort | exploring complicity of cervical cancer screening in malawi the interplay of behavioral cultural and societal influences |
| topic | behavior cervical cancer screening culture global health disparities hiv rapid ethnography resource-limited settings women |
| url | http://www.apjon.org/article.asp?issn=2347-5625;year=2020;volume=7;issue=1;spage=18;epage=27;aulast=Lee |
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