Table 2.
Qualitative studies included.
| First author, year | Country | Study design | Studysetting | Population | Age | Screening status | Type of screening | Patient-reported factors influencing women’s cervical cancer screening experience. The (+/−) signs indicate women’s perception of how these factors influenced their screening experience. | MMAT score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bateman et al. (2019) | Tanzania | Focus group discussions | Twelve Management and Development for Health (MDH) public HIV centers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 19 HIV-positive women | 24–57 years | NR | NR |
Personal lack of knowledge on cervical cancer screening (−), fear of examination (−) Social information sources (+), participating in patient navigation programs (+), cancer-related stigma (−) |
75% |
| Bukirwa et al. (2015) | Uganda | In-depth interview | HIV specialist care organization of Mildmay Uganda | 18 HIV-positive women | ≥25 years | 1/3 not screened, 1/3 screened once, 1/3 screened on a regular basis | VILI, VIA |
Personal risk perception associated with HIV (+), misconceptions about the cervical cancer screening process (−), fear of painful examination and other screening-related side effects (−), current poor health status of the women (excessive weight loss, DM, HTN) (−), competing health priorities (tuberculosis and antiretroviral therapy) (−), embarrassment (−), poor hygiene (−) Social lack of health education (−), lack of a proper follow-up reminder (−) Structural long waiting time (−) |
100% |
| Gordon et al. (2019) | India | Semi-structured in-depth interviews | New Civil Hospital ART Centrein Surat, India | 25 HIV-positive women | 30–54 years, mean age 37.2 year | 88% screened at least once | Pap test |
Personal concerns about HIV status disclosure (−) Social HIV-related stigma at healthcare facilities (−), support from friends and/or family members (+), confidential communication with physician (+) |
75% |
| Matenge and Mash (2018) | Botswana | Semi-structured interviews | Oodi rural clinic in the Kgatleng district of Botswana | 14 HIV-positive women | 29–49 years, mean age 37.4 year | 71.4% screened at least once | Pap test and VIA |
Personal delays in getting the test results (−), being employed (−), getting an appointment for the cervical cancer screening (−), lack of instruction by HCP (−), lack of knowledge Pap test and risk factors of cervical cancer (−), fear of painful examination (−), embarrassment (−), fear from positive results (−), lack of knowledge about treatment modalities for precursor lesions of cervical cancer (−), alcohol misuse (−) Structural long distance from the clinic (−), unpredictability of public transport for the clinic (−), equipment shortages at the clinic (−), long waiting time (−) |
50% |
| Nyambe et al. (2018) | Zambia | In-depth interviews | Urban and rural health care facilities in Lusaka and Chongwe districts, Zambia | 19 HIV-positive women, 19 HIV-negative women and 2 women with unknown HIV status | 25–49 years | 52.5% screened at least once | NR | Personal importance of early detection of precancerous lesions (+), misconceptions about risk factors of cervical cancer (−), fear of painful examination (−), lack of time and reluctance (−) | 50% |
| White et al. (2012) | Zambia | Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews | Zambian Ministry of Health primary health center in Kanyama | 20 HIV positive women and 40 HIV-negative women | 18–49 years | NR | VIA |
Personal protecting future pregnancy (+), screening test was performed quickly (+), undressing for the exam (−), fear of painful examination (−), potential of contracting diseases from examination (−) Social supportive attitudes of staff (+), confidential communication with staff (+), encouragement from close friends and husbands (+), cancer-related stigma (−), Structural free healthcare services (+), understaffing (−) |
75% |
ART anti-retroviral therapy, HCP healthcare provider, HIV human immunodeficiency virus, MMAT mixed methods appraisal tool, NR not reported, VIA visual inspection with acetic acid, VILI visual inspection with Lugol’s iodine.