Visual inspection with acetic acid service goes to the public for a Jakarta free from cervical cancer
Aims
The purpose of this study was to raise public awareness towards cervical cancer and increase the number of citizens who went through the early detection procedure of cervical cancer in Jakarta.
Methods
In January 2017, the Department of Health of Special Capital Region of Jakarta issued a new policy to increase the rate of cervical cancer screening in the city.
The new policy included:
a new reporting system where all the patients who subjected to cervical cancer screening were recorded on a special form, so screening can be well reported and traced
a change from the conventional way of cervical cancer screening in primary health centres into a mobile service to make the medical staff able to reach patients who live in peripheral areas in Jakarta
enhanced health education about cervical cancer and health promotion regarding the importance of cervical cancer screening with the visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) test and pap smear in primary health centres.
The tools used for socialisation were in the form of banners and motion graphics, while tools for the VIA examination (Grave vaginal speculum, 3–5% vinegar acid and cotton-tipped applicator) were provided by the primary health centres. The results were obtained and assessed between January 2017 and December 2018. Early detection rates were expected to increase by 50% compared with 2016.
Results
The results obtained included the new reporting system works as expected, and tracing the patient with a positive VIA value became easier to monitor and medical teams were more active on introducing the early detection cervical cancer screening to society. Various innovations were carried out that included using a motorcycle to carry the medical tools and devices, a modified car equipped with mobile health services, and a house of citizens and community hall that was turned into a place of examination (Fig 1). The number of people who have started to realise to importance of early detection after being educated with the knowledge of VIA test and cervical cancer was increased. The number of citizens who joined the cervical cancer early detection in 2016 was 48,960. After the policy and innovation being applied, the number increased to 105,060 citizens (increased by 114% from the previous year) (Table 1).
Conclusion
The increase in the early detection rate of cervical cancer was quite significant from the previous year. For patients with positive results in their VIA test, cryotherapy was included as the part of treatment and follow up. Costs incurred due to the treatment of cervical cancer can be reduced. With the result of this study, we learnt that the improvement of the quality of health services can be better, and the number of deaths and morbidity from cervical cancer in the Jakarta can be prevented.
Conflict of interest statement
None declared.
- © Royal College of Physicians 2019. All rights reserved.
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