Abstract 12: Barriers in Delivery of Results and Treatment of Women Tested Positive for HPV in Burkina Faso
Authors: Kombate Gountante , Troare Linda , Dao Blami , Koné Andre , Zongo Youssouf , Zoure Emmanuelle , Shissler Tracey , Huang Lisa , Daceney Nemdia , Dodo Mathurin , Gauvreau Cindy , Kabue Mark 
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Burkina Faso. As part of the global effort to eliminate cervical cancer, the ministry of health supported by the Unitaid-funded SUCCESS project, is implementing Human Papillomavirus screening and services associated with treatment when needed. However, effective implementation in a Burkinabé context remains unknown. The SUCCESS project is studying the integration of this approach into existing women’s health services.

Methods: Study data were collected from April to October 2022 in 10 health facilities in Burkina Faso, where voluntary HPV testing is integrated into routine services. Women enrolled in the study were contacted by health providers by phone to inform them of the availability of results and the need to return to the health center; results were not delivered over the phone. A second contact was made with HPV-positive women to evaluate and propose treatment. To overcome difficulties in reaching women with poor access to telephone networks in rural areas, the study team engaged with local resource persons like community health workers. Quantitative and qualitative data collection (surveys and clinical records) covered all components of this implementation research. Descriptive analysis was conducted.

Results: 2,227 women participated in the study, of whom 1,960 (88%) received their results. Of these, 212 (11%) HPV-positive women received treatment by October 2022. 37% of these women were married. The median time from receipt of results by health providers to treatment was 10 days (IQR 16-27). Women were primarily contacted by telephone, with the majority of women or one member of the household having at least one telephone. lack of information on the importance of early treatment, the two-week period without sexual intercourse during treatment and the difficulty of accessing the telephone network for rural women are the main challenges.

Conclusion: The relatively short time between receipt of results and treatment shows that the integration of HPV services in Burkina Faso requires complementary action with all health system actors. Comprehensive methods of communicating results and husband involvement for early treatment of HPV-positive women should be considered when expanding services, especially for women living in rural areas.

Key words: Cervical Cancer, Human Papilloma Virus testing, implementation research, feasibility, Women, Burkina Faso

Citation Format: Gountante Kombate, Linda Troare, Blami Dao, Andre Koné, Youssouf Zongo, Emmanuelle Zoure, Tracey Shissler, Lisa Huang, Nemdia Daceney, Mathurin Dodo, Cindy Gauvreau, Mark Kabue. Barriers in Delivery of Results and Treatment of Women Tested Positive for HPV in Burkina Faso [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 12.