Title:
Factors Influencing Access to Preventive Services for Cervical Cancer Among Women in Bolivia
Authors:
Alemán, Christopher T.
Place:
Amsterdam
Publisher:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute [etc.]
Year:
2017
PAGE:
viii, 53
Language:
En
Subject:
Health and Poverty
Keywords:
Access, Barriers, Screening, Cervical Cancer, Bolivia
Abstract:
Problem: Cervical cancer (CC) kills over 250,000 women each year worldwide and most deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to insufficient access to preventive services for CC (PSCC). The government of Bolivia (GOB) provides CC screening for free to targeted women yet access remains low and Bolivia has some of the highest rates of CC in the world. Methods/Objectives: This thesis identifies factors influencing access to PSCC in Bolivia by conducting a literature review. A conceptual model on access to healthcare is used to organize the influencing factors. The study compares the national guidelines for CC screening to international standards, searches for effective interventions in similar countries, and offers recommendations to the GOB to reduce the country’s burden of disease. Findings: The main factors influencing access to PSCC in Bolivia are barriers arising from inequalities of socioeconomic status, gender, and culture (demand-side) and from the low quality, weak capacity and maldistribution of resources of the public health system (supply-side). Bolivia’s guidelines are not in line with international standards. Countries with similar contexts have improved access to PSCC by employing participatory strategies and by task shifting the screen-and-treat approach to midlevel providers. Conclusions/recommendations: Access to PSCC in Bolivia is low but can be improved. Stakeholders planning interventions for PSCC should utilize participatory strategies to improve access, especially for rural and indigenous communities. Cytology-based screening in the public sector should be replaced with the screen-and-treat approach done by midlevel providers.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Training:
Master in International Health
Category:
Research
Right:
@ 2017 Alemán
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
j82NnOdbj4_20180415112422774.pdf