Implementing the 3T-approach for cervical cancer screening in Cameroon: Preliminary results on program performance

Option recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) includes human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening followed by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) triage. We implemented a program based on a 3T-approach (Test-Triage and Treat). Our objective was to verify the effectiveness of the program by defining a set of performance indices. A sensitization campaign was performed in Dschang (Cameroon) and women aged 30-49 years were invited to participate for screening based on the 3T-approach. Participants performed HPV self-sampling (Self-HPV), analyzed with the point-of-care Xpert HPV assay followed by VIA/VILI triage and treatment if required. Key performance indicators (KPIs) for screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up were defined, and achievable targets were described for which the approach is likely to be running optimally. A total of 840 women with a mean age of 39.4±5.9 years participated. The KPIs included (i) the screening rate (8.4% at 7 months, target =20% at 12 months), (ii) HPV positivity rate (19.8%, expected range 18-25%), (iii) compliance to referral to VIA/VILI and complete test (100%, target >90%), (iv) compliance to referral to thermal ablation (100%, target >90%), (v) VIA/VILI positivity rate (50.6%, expected range 45-55%), (vi) a single visit from diagnostic to treatment (79.8%, target >80%), (vii) compliance to follow-up at 1 month (96.4%, target >80%) and (viii) at 6 months (70.6%, target >80%). Program performance based on the single-visit 3T-approach corresponded to defined targets and preliminary results support adequateness of KPIs for periodic monitoring.