Integrating cervical cancer screening into safer conception services to improve women’s health outcomes: a pilot study at a primary care clinic in South Africa

Background Sub-optimal cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries contributes to preventable cervical cancer deaths, particularly amongst HIV-positive women. We assessed feasibility and outcomes of integrating cervical cancer screening into safer conception services for HIV-affected women. Methods At a safer conception service in Johannesburg, South Africa, HIV-affected women desiring pregnancy received a standard package of care designed to minimise HIV transmission risks, whilst optimising pre-pregnancy health. All eligible women were offered Papanicolaou smear and those with significant pathology were referred for colposcopy before attempting pregnancy. Multivariable analyses identified associations between patient characteristics and abnormal pathology. Results In total, 454 women were enrolled between June 2015 and April 2017. At enrolment, 91% were HIV-positive, 92% were on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 82% virally suppressed. Eighty-three percent (376/454) of clients were eligible for cervical cancer screening and 85% (321/376) of these completed screening. More than half had abnormal cervical pathology (185/321) and 20% required colposcopy for possible high-grade or persistently atypical lesions (64/321). Compared to HIV-negative women, abnormal pathology was more likely amongst HIV-positive women, both those on ART Conclusion Integrating cervical cancer screening into safer conception care was feasible with high coverage, including for HIV-positive women. Significant pathology, requiring colposcopy, was common, even amongst healthy women on ART. Safer conception services present an opportunity for integration of cervical cancer screening to avert preventable cancer-related deaths amongst HIV-affected women planning pregnancy.