Early experience scaling up a breast cancer early detection initiative integrated with cervical cancer screening in Rwanda.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Late-stage breast cancer contributes to a growing number of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) but few studies examine scalable early detection strategies. Following small-scale pilots, in 2020 Rwanda launched an adapted Women's Cancer Early Detection Programme (WCEDP), integrating clinical breast exam (CBE) for symptomatic patients with cervical cancer screening. A WCEDP-specific electronic health record (EHR) was developed to facilitate patient tracking.

Methods

We used the RE-AIM implementation science framework to retrospectively evaluate implementation of breast cancer early detection within the WCEDP over 12 months in the first three scale-up districts (population: 2 009 888), using routinely-collected electronic and paper data from 15 health centres and 3 h

SUBMITTER: Pace LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12542583 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature