Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Self-Sampling among Never-and Under-Screened Indigenous Maori, Pacific and Asian Women in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Feasibility Study

In Aotearoa, New Zealand, the majority of cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been screened or are under-screened. Wahine Maori, Pacific and Asian women have the lowest rate of cervical screening. Self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV-SS) has been shown to increase participation in cervical cancer screening. A whole-of-system approach, driven by evidence in the most effective delivery of HPV-SS, is required to mitigate further widening of the avoidable gap in cervical screening access and outcomes between groups of women in Aotearoa. This single-arm feasibility and acceptability study of HPV self-sampling invited never- and under-screened (& GE;5 years overdue) 30-69-year-old women from general practices in Auckland, Aotearoa. Eligible women were identified by data matching between the National Cervical Programme (NCSP) Register and practice data. Focus groups were additionally held with eligible wahine Maori, Asian and Pacific women to co-design new patient information materials. Questionnaires on HPV knowledge and post-test experience were offered to women. Our follow-up protocols included shared decision-making principles, and we committed to follow-up & GE;90% of women who tested positive for HPV. Data matching identified 366 eligible never- and under-screened wahine Maori, Pacific and Asian women in participating practices. We were only able to contact 114 women, and 17, during the discussion, were found to be ineligible. Identifying and contacting women overdue for a cervical screen was resource-intensive, with a high rate of un-contactability despite multiple attempts. We found the best uptake of self-sampling was at focus groups. Of the total 84 HPV-SS tests, there were five positive results (6%), including one participant with HPV18 who was found to have a cervical Adenocarcinoma at colposcopy. In our feasibility study, self-sampling was acceptable and effective at detecting HPV and preventing cervical cancer in under-screened urban wahine Maori, Pacific and Asian women in Aotearoa. This is the first report of cervical Adenocarcinoma (Grade 1B) as a result of an HPV-18 positive self-sample in Aotearoa. We co-designed new patient information materials taking a health literacy and ethnicity-specific approach. This work provides policy-relevant information to the NCSP on the resources required to implement an effective HPV self-sampling programme to improve equity in national cervical cancer screening.

Automated summary

In New Zealand, the majority of cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been screened or are under-screened, with Maori, Pacific and Asian women having the lowest rate of cervical screening. Self-sampling for human papillomavirus has been shown to increase participation in cervical cancer screening. The study found that self-sampling is acceptable and effective in detecting HPV and preventing cervical cancer in under-screened urban Maori, Pacific and Asian women in Aotearoa, with the need for a whole-of-system approach to reduce the widening gap in screening access and outcomes among different groups of women.