Tanzanian women´s knowledge about Cervical Cancer and HPV and their prevalence of positive VIA cervical screening results. Data from a Prevention and Awareness Campaign in Northern Tanzania, 2017 – 2019

Background: 14.9 million women (≥15 years) in Tanzania are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Limited cancer care facilities, prevention programs and sparse knowledge among community members and healthcare workers contribute to late-stage presentation leading to a high mortality rate. Objective: This study aims to scientifically accompany prevention and awareness campaigns (PrevACamp) in northern Tanzania in its real-world settings to obtain (1) a better understanding about cervical cancer and HPV knowledge amongst female PrevACamp participants and (2) to determine the prevalence of pre-cancerous lesions among women undergoing cervical cancer VIA screening. Method: Cross-sectional survey among PrevACamp attendees in two regions in Northern Tanzania. Two data collections tools were used: Questionnaires and clinical data from VIA screening. Data were collected from October 2017 to March 2019. Results: 2,192 PrevACamp attendees were interviewed and 2,224 received VIA screening. There was significant nescience on cervical cancer regardless of education level, resident status, or number of children as well as nescience on HPV in all age groups, especially in urban areas and misconceptions about cancer. Screening revealed VIA positivity rate of 3.1%. Conclusion: There is an alarming lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and, to a lesser Extent, about HPV among the study participants. Having health insurance influenced the level of knowledge significantly. Outreach programs in rural areas appear to target the population in need of health education. Low positive VIA screening results are paralleled with lower HIV rates among the women. We assume that the high density of primary health care coverage in northern Tanzania contributes to these findings..