Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death of women in Suriname with an estimated 60 - 70 new cases annually (out of a population of approximately 118,000 women aged 30-60 years). About 80% of these cases present at an advanced stage; there are about 25 - 35 deaths annually. Prevention of cervical cancer can prevent this disease. Suriname has a national plan to address cervical cancer, however, this is proving difficult to implement in practice and screening now takes place on an ad hoc basis. For example, only 40% of women in Suriname have ever had screening in their lifetime.
FCF will start a project to embed cervical cancer screening in Suriname into the local health structure in a sustainable way. In the first phase, this project will focus on the Paramaribo region. Women are informed about cervical cancer screening through an HPV test. If they decide to participate in the study, they can choose to take the HPV test themselves (the HPV self-test) or have it done by a nurse. If they are found to have HPV, they will be referred to the gynecologist at the hospital for further testing to see if there are any precancerous stages of cervical cancer. If so, they are treated.
Within this project we will investigate several research questions. Such as whether women choose for an HPV test and if and why they subsequently choose for an HPV self-test or for a test performed by a nurse. We will also investigate which types of HPV occur in the Surinamese population. The ultimate question is whether the introduction of the HPV test within cervical cancer screening in Suriname is feasible.
FCF is part of a consortium in this project. This consortium includes the Lobi Foundation and Academic Hospital Paramaribo.
For more information, see the project website .
