Abstract:
OBJECTIVES : The objective of this scoping review was to
map evidence on the acceptability of self-sampling
for
human papillomavirus testing (HPVSS) for cervical cancer
screening among women in the sub-Saharan
Africa region.
DESIGN : Scoping review.
METHODS : Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, we
searched Scopus, PubMed, Medline Ovid, Cochrane
and Web of Science databases for evidence on the
acceptability of HPVSS among women aged 25 years
and older published between January 2011 and July
2021. We included studies that reported evidence on the
acceptability of HPVSS for cervical cancer screening.
Review articles and protocols were excluded. We also
searched for evidence from grey literature sources
such as dissertations/theses, conference proceedings,
websites of international organisations such as WHO and
relevant government reports. Two reviewers independently
performed the extraction using a pre-designed
Excel
spreadsheet and emerging themes were narratively
summarised.
RESULTS : The initial search retrieved 1018 articles. Of
these, 19 articles were eligible and included in the
review. The following themes emerged from the included
articles: acceptability of HPVSS; lack of self-efficacy
to
perform HPVSS, complications when performing HPVSS,
preferences for provider sampling or assistance; setting of
HPVSS; HPVSS by vulnerable populations.
CONCLUSION : Evidence shows that HPVSS is highly
acceptable for cervical cancer screening in sub-Saharan
Africa. Further research exploring the acceptability of
HPVSS among women residing in rural areas is required,
as well as studies to determine women’s preferences
for HPVSS intervention including the preferred type of
sampling devices. Knowledge on the acceptability and
preferences for HPVSS is important in designing women-centred
interventions that have the potential to increase
screening coverage and participation in cervical cancer
screening programmes.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All data relevant to the study are included in the
article or uploaded as online supplemental information. Data sharing not applicable
as no data sets were generated and/or analysed for this study. All data underlying
the results are available as part of the article and no additional source data are
required.
