Acceptability of self-taken vaginal for early detection of HPV DNA in women with limited access to health services: An alternative to increase the coverage in a state of the Mexican Republic

Abstract

Objective: To determine the acceptability of self-taken vaginal to detect HPV DNA in women living in marginalized areas as an alternative to increase the coverage of health services. Methods: A cross-sectional study from March 2009 to April 2011 in 20 municipalities with the highest marginalization in the Huasteca Region of the State of San Luis Potosi, México. We applied a non-probabilistic quota sampling, which was composed of 608 women aged 25 years and more. The re cruitment of women was performed through loudspeakers, leaflets and community meetings. A survey consisted of two sections: socio-demographic data and risk factors, which was validated by construct. We checked the reliability by Cronbach’s Alpha (0.90). Acceptability was determined by considering three indicators: perceived comfort, acceptability of the test and the reasons of acceptability. Results: 41.4% of this woman had 31-40 years. 70.5% were married. 35.3% finished high school and 6.7% had not education experience. 67.4% began their sexual life at 18 years or younger. 85.5% preferred self-collection and 14.5% Pap. These results show a clear acceptability of self-making on the other screening method. Regarding the reason for the preference is that 99.4% of women prefer self-take because they feel more comfortable compared to 0.6% who prefer the Papanicolaou. On the perception of comfort 91% mentioned feel very comfortable with self-making compared with 9% of Pap. There was a statisti cally signifi cant correlation between preference reasons that women have to choose the screening test and the perception of comfort ( X 2 p = 0.000). Conclusions: The self-taken vaginal HPV DNA detection is a well accepted method in women who live in marginalized areas; therefore, it is an alternative that can be considered in the uterine cancer detection testing program.