Cervical cancer screening uptake among women living with HIV in the era of universal test and treat policy in Malawi: results from the 2020-2021 Malawi population-based HIV impact assessment.

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Malawi. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) are more susceptible to developing cervical cancer due to their compromised immune system. Screening facilitates early detection and timely management of the disease. However, there is limited evidence regarding the factors associated with its uptake. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the uptake of cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among WLHIV in Malawi.

METHODS

This study was based on nationally representative data from the 2020-2021 Malawi Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, which included a sample of 1696 WLHIV aged 15 years and older. Descriptive statistics were conducted to ascertain the proportion of WLHIV screened for cervical cancer, while multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake.

RESULTS

In total 668 women reported having ever been screened for cervical cancer, representing a screening rate of 38.0% (95% CI: 35.0-41.1%). Women with primary education (AOR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.12-2.12), secondary and higher education (AOR = 2.13, 95%CI: 1.39-3.27), from rich households (AOR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.36-2.49), from southern region (AOR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.19-3.91), and on antiretroviral therapy for ten or more years (AOR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.62-4.21) were more likely to screen for cervical cancer. Conversely, women living in rural areas (AOR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.53-0.98) were less likely to screen.

CONCLUSION

The findings reveal that the uptake of cervical cancer screening among WLHIV in Malawi was low, suggesting gaps in the integration of cervical cancer screening into routine HIV care. Several sociodemographic factors as well as the duration on antiretroviral therapy were associated with cervical cancer screening uptake. Therefore, efforts to improve screening uptake should target the specific groups identified in this study, particularly those residing in rural areas, from poor households, newly initiated on antiretroviral therapy, and those with no formal education.