Testing an Implementation Science Tool to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening in Mombasa, Kenya

Specific Aims Eighty-seven percent of cervical cancer deaths worldwide occur in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and cervical cancer is the most common cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (1-4). The significant disparity between cervical cancer outcomes in the United States and LMICs is largely attributed to differences in screening (5). While approximately 89% of US women receive cervical cancer screening (7), less than 5% of women in LMICs have been screened (4). Barriers to screening in LMICs include challenges with infrastructure to support screening, competing health interests, lack of education, low health literacy, and poverty (2, 8-12).

In addition to the general lack of cervical cancer screening, SSA carries the highest global burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Women account for 59% of all people living with HIV (13) and cervical cancer incidence is higher in women with HIV (14). With the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), women receiving HIV treatment have increased life expectancy approaching that of HIV-negative women (15). However, cervical cancer rates do not significantly decline despite ART and immune reconstitution (16), and invasive cervical cancer incidence remains high even with ART (17). The aging population of HIV-positive women will continue to face a large lifetime risk of cervical cancer (18).

Because of the burden of both cervical cancer and HIV infection in SSA, improving implementation of cervical cancer screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions in this region is critical. Existing methods for cervical cancer screening include cytology, human papillomavirus testing (14), and visual inspection methods (19). Pairing screening with treatment of positive screens using cryotherapy or loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEP) could prevent progression to cervical cancer (20), and greatly reduce morbidity and mortality in women. To address this implementation gap, simple, scalable, and sustainable interventions are imperative to improve screening and treatment of pre-cancers. The Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines stress the need to strengthen capacity, streamline, and standardize screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer (21). To achieve this, our long-term partners in the Mombasa County Department of Health (DOH) are eager to increase rates of cervical cancer screening. The investigators aim to test an implementation science methodology, Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA), to address systems barriers to screening and provide quality improvement while relying on existing infrastructure to conduct screening. Rather than directly offering screening, this intervention aims to support systematic improvements in screening processes in facilities throughout the county. The investigators propose a collaborative research project with Mombasa County to achieve the following specific aims:

AIM 1:To describe the cervical cancer screening care cascade, from identification of female clients age 21-65 years old, through referral for follow-up of clients with positive or suspicious screens, in family planning (FP) clinics in Mombasa County. Following characterization of this cascade, we will conduct an analysis of correlates of failure to screen for cervical cancer in FP clients seen over a one-year period.

HYP 1: While many FP clinics are capable of providing cervical cancer screening, the majority of clients are not screened appropriately. Failure to screen for cervical cancer will be associated with both patient-level (e.g. age) and clinic-level (e.g. resources available) factors.

AIM 2: To test whether SAIA increases cervical cancer screening compared to usual procedures in a cluster randomized trial in 20 FP clinics in Mombasa County.

HYP 2: Family planning clinics randomized to SAIA will have increased rates of cervical cancer screening by modifying bottlenecks in screening processes compared to clinics randomized to usual procedures.

AIM 3: To determine the cost and budget impact of using SAIA to increase cervical cancer screening in FP clinics in Mombasa County.

Expected Outcomes and Public Health Impact As one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in African women, immediate attention to increase rates of cervical cancer screening and treatment of pre-cancers is crucial. This implementation tool holds potential for addressing gaps in cervical cancer prevention and lowering cancer morbidity and mortality. Use of the reproducible SAIA methodology could provide a template for broader rollout of cervical cancer screening throughout the country and region. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to guide the evaluation of this intervention will provide insight about the potential generalizability of the intervention, and improve the likelihood of its successful implementation in diverse settings (22).

The proposed aims will provide valuable training in key competencies in implementation research, with measurable and objective indicators of success in skills building and career development. The proposal leverages exceptional resources at the University of Washington (UW) and our longstanding and productive partnership with multiple institutions in Kenya (see letters from Mombasa County DOH, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta National Hospital) to facilitate Dr. Eastment's career advancement.