Understanding hesitancy: barriers to HR-HPV self-sampling among women at high risk for cervical cancer in Latvia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Screening is one of the main cornerstones of cervical cancer prevention. Self-sampling for HR-HPV is introduced to improve patient involvement in the screening program. The study aimed to understand the hesitancy and barriers to self-sampling among high-risk women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

Methods

This qualitative study employed semi-structured telephone interviews to explore the factors behind the refusal of HR-HPV self-sampling among twelve purposefully selected women (aged 25-49) with abnormal Pap smears recruited from a colposcopy clinic within a major urban university hospital in Riga, Latvia. The interviews, conducted between June and September 2022, were tr

SUBMITTER: Berza N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12797711 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature