Farajimakin Olugbenga
Clinical Research, Faraj-Lab Medical Diagnostics and Research Center, Lagos, NGA.
Cureus. 2024 Jul 28;16(7):e65555. doi: 10.7759/cureus.65555. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern, particularly in underserved populations. Despite the availability of effective screening methods, uptake remains suboptimal in many regions. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence on barriers to cervical cancer screening across diverse populations and healthcare settings. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published till June 2024. Studies examining barriers to cervical cancer screening in various populations were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. A narrative synthesis approach was used to analyze and present the findings. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a wide range of study designs and populations. Common barriers identified across studies included lack of knowledge and awareness, economic constraints, access issues, cultural and religious factors, fear and embarrassment, and distrust in healthcare systems. Population-specific barriers were observed among immigrant and ethnic minority women, individuals in low- and middle-income countries, indigenous women, and LGBQ women. Healthcare system factors, socioeconomic influences, psychological and individual factors, and interpersonal and community dynamics also played significant roles in screening participation. This review highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of barriers to cervical cancer screening. Findings suggest that interventions to improve screening rates should be comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and tailored to specific population needs. Addressing both individual-level and systemic barriers is crucial for enhancing cervical cancer screening uptake globally.
宫颈癌仍然是一个重大的全球健康问题，在服务不足的人群中尤为突出。尽管有有效的筛查方法，但在许多地区，筛查的普及程度仍不理想。本系统综述旨在综合目前关于不同人群和医疗环境中宫颈癌筛查障碍的证据。对电子数据库进行了全面检索，以确定截至2024年6月发表的相关研究。纳入了考察不同人群中宫颈癌筛查障碍的研究。由两名评审员独立进行数据提取和质量评估。采用叙述性综合方法分析和呈现研究结果。十七项研究符合纳入标准，涵盖了广泛的研究设计和人群。各项研究中确定的常见障碍包括知识和意识缺乏、经济限制、获取问题、文化和宗教因素、恐惧和尴尬以及对医疗系统的不信任。在移民和少数族裔妇女、低收入和中等收入国家的人群、原住民妇女以及女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋和跨性别者（LGBQ）妇女中观察到了特定人群的障碍。医疗系统因素、社会经济影响、心理和个人因素以及人际和社区动态在筛查参与中也发挥了重要作用。本综述强调了宫颈癌筛查障碍的复杂性和多面性。研究结果表明，提高筛查率的干预措施应该是全面的、具有文化敏感性的，并根据特定人群的需求进行调整。解决个人层面和系统层面的障碍对于提高全球宫颈癌筛查的普及至关重要。
