Background Women in low- and middle-income countries are at the highest risk of cervical cancer yet have limited access to and participation in cervical cancer screening programs. Integrating self-collected, community-based screening offers a potential primary screening method in areas of limited resources. In this paper, we present a study evaluating knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cervical cancer and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in rural Zimbabwe. Methods We performed a community-based cross-sectional knowledge, attitudes and practices of HPV and cervical cancer study in rural Zimbabwe from January 2017–May 2017. Women were selected for the study via random number generation from complete lists of inhabitants in the study area if they satisfied the inclusion criteria (≥30-years-old, ≤65-years-old, not pregnant, intact uterus). If selected, they participated in a 19-question structured knowledge, attitudes and practices survey. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, education, knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer, and risk factors. Chi-squared tests were evaluated comparing knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to HPV and cervical cancer screening with actual infection with HPV. Women were also offered a voluntary HIV and self-collected HPV screening. Results Six hundred seventy-nine women were included in the knowledge, attitudes and practices survey. Most women (81%) had heard of cervical cancer while the majority had not heard of HPV (12%). The number of women that had been screened previously for cervical cancer was low (5%) . There were no significant differences between and within groups regarding knowledge of cervical cancer and actual overall infection with HR-HPV, HPV 16, and HPV 18/45 test results. Conclusions Most women in rural Zimbabwe have heard of cervical cancer, but the number that had been screened was low . Extending existing outreach services to include cervical cancer screening, potentially including HPV screening, should include cervical cancer/HPV education and screening triage. This approach would serve to bridge the gap between knowledge and screening availability to address some of the barriers to cervical cancer care still affecting women in many regions of the world.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), or disorders of gutbrain interaction, are among the most common medical conditions in the world, 1 and greatly impact daily functioning and quality of life.In recent years, evidence has emerged that counseling, customized diets, and other forms of high-touch care (ie, higher intensity care with more frequent interactions or customized planning) can significantly improve FGID treatment. While this level of support may stretch the personnel resources of a traditional gastroenterology (GI) practice, recent advances in digital health have created new opportunities to engage and manage these patients. Digital health is optimally suited to FGIDs as it enables more frequent provider-patient interactions and empowers patients to have greater agency over their care-a crucial advantage where FGIDs are part of a larger biopsychosocial construct in which innate coping mechanisms and external stressors outside the clinician's office play an outsized role in symptoms.GI digital health applications fall into four broad categories: (1) symptom tracking platforms; (2) digitally connected devices; (3) telemedicine; and (4) patient support groups. In this perspective, we review the current landscape of digital tools for FGIDs and future opportunities to improve care (Figure 1).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.