Evaluation of cancer screening services provided for people living with HIV in Botswana, 2022–2023

Bibliographic Data

ID22944641
AuthorsAnikie Mathoma (0000-0002-2464-843X, University of Botswana, corresponding author), Benn Sartorius (0000-0001-6761-2325, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Saajida Mahomed (0000-0001-7095-9186, University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Year2024
Volume39
Issue3
Publication date2024-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daae042
PMID38742893
OpenAlexW4396903883
LanguageEN
References cited36

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) have an increased risk of cancers. Currently, Botswana has no screening guidelines for common cancers in PLHIV except cervical cancer. Also, the proportion of PLHIV who are screened for cancer is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate cancer screening services for PLHIV receiving care in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics. Resources for cancer screening were assessed and medical records of adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 2020 to 2021 in 20 high-volume HIV clinics in Gaborone and Francistown were reviewed. Questionnaires assessing knowledge and practices of cancer screening were administered to health workers. The majority of clinics had the required resources for cancer screening (specifically cervical cancer). Of the 62 health workers working at the HIV clinics, 57 (91.9%) completed the questionnaire: 35 (62.5%) nurses and 22 (37.5%) doctors. Only 26.3% of the health workers were trained in cervical cancer screening. Doctors were more likely to report practicing routine screening of other cancers (e.g. breast) (p = 0.003) while more nurses reported assessing patients for cancer history during follow-up visits (p = 0.036). Most health workers did not perform physical examinations to detect cancer at initial or follow-up visits. Of the 1000 records of PLHIV reviewed, 57.3% were females, and only 38% of these were screened for cervical cancer. Besides cervical cancer, almost all (97.8%) were not screened for any cancer at ART initiation and during follow-up. These findings highlight the need to improve cancer screening services of PLHIV in Botswana through the training of health workers, and the development and enhanced use of screening guidelines.

Breast cancer · Cancer · Cancer screening · Cervical cancer · Family medicine · Gynecology · Health care · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Cervical Cancer and HPV Research · Global Cancer Incidence and Screening · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Viral-associated cancers and disorders

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