AISHA: An implementation study on rapid HPV testing in the United Republic of Tanzania

Overview

In 2005, the WHO, with Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) in the United Republic of Tanzania, and partners strengthened health care settings to implement cervical cancer screening and treatment based on VIA and cryotherapy. These demonstration sites and others identified by the MoHSW were considered ideal as the basis for conducting operational research to introduce new rapid Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA-based screening tests for cervical cancer to improve cervical cancer prevention programmes. Compared to VIA operating at the primary, district and regional levels of the health care system, the field performance of rapid HPV testing was assessed in a variety of settings to determine its overall impact on programme performance.

Objective: to assess the reproducibility, feasibility, and acceptability of rapid HPV testing at each level of the health system and to determine if it is able to perform as intended. The use of VIA and rapid HPV testing in the follow-up of treated women will be assessed at a one year follow-up visit.