Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Papanicolaou (Pap) testing has helped reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and remains the primary screening tool in Gabon. However, cervical cancer is still a major public health problem in the country. To improve the effectiveness of Pap smear screening, this study aimed to describe post-screening follow-up and identify barriers to appropriate follow-up. A retrospective study was conducted between January 2018 and December 2019 in the Libreville region of Gabon. We assessed follow-up care among 619 women aged 17 years or older after conventional cytology screening. Individual attitudes (59.6%) and community beliefs (39.6%) were the main reported barriers to the collection of pathology reports and physician consultation, respectively. Among women with abnormal cytology and documented management, 28.7% of reported management decisions were consistent with expected recommendations. In conclusion, this study shows that post-screening follow-up challenges were mainly linked to limited knowledge, community beliefs, and reported or undocumented management gaps. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because management information was obtained through patient self-report.
Language: French
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7216714944