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Cervical Cancer Prevention (Low-Resource Settings)

Woman getting her blood pressure taken

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable when detected at an early stage. However, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, nearly 570,000 new cases were reported globally, resulting in an estimated 311,000 deaths worldwide. Nearly 90% of deaths related to cervical cancer occur in the world's poorest countries. Most of these cases are discovered late, when treatment is less effective.

This course will provide essential knowledge about the burden of cervical cancer; effective and low-cost tools available to detect and treat precancerous lesions; information about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; links between HIV, HPV, and cervical cancer; and proven program approaches applied in low-resource settings to combat this preventable killer.

This course focuses on the use of visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy in a single visit approach (SVA) in low-resource settings.

Objective

At the end of this course, the learner will be able to:

  • Recognize the global burden of cervical cancer and compare its incidence in more and less developed regions
  • Describe the natural history of cervical cancer, compare the role of HPV infection with other cervical cancer risk factors, and recognize the timing and phases of disease progression
  • Identify screening and treatment approaches and compare the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches
  • Explain why the single visit approach is an effective strategy for cervical cancer prevention in low-resource settings
  • Recognize programming elements that must be addressed to implement a successful cervical cancer prevention program
  • Identify lessons learned from cervical cancer prevention programs implemented in low-resource settings
  • Identify HPV vaccines currently available and consider their effectiveness; examine vaccine introduction strategies and factors to consider when introducing the HPV vaccine
  • Examine links between HIV, HPV, and cervical cancer; discuss implications for treating precancer in HIV-positive women

Credits

The original authors, Ricky Lu, Amy Kleine, Sharon Kibwana, and Chris Davis Merriman of Jhpiego, published this course on May 21, 2010 with valuable inputs from:

  • Paul Blumenthal, Stanford
  • Megan Harris, Jhpiego
  • Jim Shelton, USAID

The original course authors would also like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the course content and graphics:

  • Rebecca Fielding, Jhpiego
  • Megan Harris, Jhpiego
  • Renata Kepner, Jhpiego
  • Cecilia Llave, Philippine General Hospital
  • Maureen Reinsel, Jhpiego

Updates to the course were made by Kevin Peine of USAID with inputs from:

  • Matthew Barnhart, USAID
  • Elizabeth Noonan, USAID
  • Monisha Ashok, USAID
  • Ilana Lapidos-Salaiz, USAID

Time

  • 2 hours

Published/Updated

  • Friday, August 16, 2019

Course Authors: 

  • Kevin Peine, USAID

Course Managers: 

  • Shannon Davis, CCP
  • Lisa Mwaikambo, CCP