Leveraging sexually transmitted infection clinics for cervical cancer screening: evidence from India
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: SETTING: Four government-run sexually transmitted infection/reproductive tract infection (STI/RTI) clinics at secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India. OBJECTIVE: To assess readiness and provider knowledge for Papanicolaou (Pap) smear-based cervical cancer screening (CCS), and to explore willingness, enablers, and barriers to CCS and integrating CCS into STI/RTI clinics. DESIGN: This was a convergent parallel mixed-methods study. Facility readiness and provider knowledge were assessed quantitatively. In-depth interviews explored implementation perspectives among purposively selected women clients, providers, and programme managers. RESULTS: Three out of four clinics met readiness standards, but only one clinic scored well in provider knowledge. Of 28 female clients, 27 (96%) were willing for CCS after counselling. Key enablers for clients to undergo CCS were respectful communication, and female-friendly and affordable services. Barriers included fear, embarrassment, low awareness, and poor family support. Providers (n = 9) highlighted well-equipped facilities, female staff availability, and permission from authorities to be key enablers for integration. They identified high workload and lack of training, staff, and programme-level support as constraints. The two programme managers perceived integration to be of less value. CONCLUSION: STI/RTI clinics could serve as a complementary platform for opportunistic CCS among high-risk women, provided human resources, training, awareness generation, and programme-level engagement are strengthened.
Source: Public Health Action
DOI: 10.5588/pha.26.0036
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204179881