IMPLEMENTATION GAPS IN CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION: PERSPECTIVES OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN NORTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA
Author(s)
Suzanna Mongan, MD, Ob-Gyn (Gyn-Onc)1, Joshua Byrnes, PhD2, Bismarck Laihad, MD, Ob-Gyn (Gyn-Onc)3, Namal Balasooriya, PhD1, Elisabeth Coyne, PhD, MN (Hons)4, Hansoo Kim, BSc, MSc, PhD5.
1School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, 2Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 3Department of Oncology, Prof. Dr R. D. Kandou General Hospital, Manado, Indonesia, 4School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, 5Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia.
1School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, 2Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 3Department of Oncology, Prof. Dr R. D. Kandou General Hospital, Manado, Indonesia, 4School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, 5Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia.
OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer is a significant health concern in Indonesia, which has the highest incidence rate in Southeast Asia. Most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, contributing to high mortality rates. This study aims to assess healthcare professionals' perspectives on current cervical cancer prevention practices and the perceived implementation barriers in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among healthcare professionals involved in cervical cancer prevention in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ethical approval Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (2024/652) and the Prof. Dr R. D. Kandou General Hospital Health Research Committee, Indonesia. Data were collected from December 2024 to March 2025, and frequency analysis was conducted in Excel.
RESULTS: A total of 124 healthcare professionals completed the survey, 53.2% were primary care physicians, 43.5% obstetricians/gynaecologists, and 3.2% pathologists. HPV vaccination was most frequently identified (68.5%) as the most effective prevention method, but also the most underutilised cervical cancer prevention strategy (35.5%). 53.9% perceived Indonesian women as poorly informed about cervical cancer. Major barriers to cervical cancer prevention were the lack of patient awareness (37.1%), high cost (29.3%), lack of resources (10.3%), patient hesitancy or fear of the vaccine or screening (9.8%); difficulty accessing healthcare services and other barriers were less frequently reported (0.9% each). Overall, 53.9% of the respondents encountered challenges when educating patients, mainly related to the low health literacy levels (25.0%), refusal or low perceived need (21.7%), fear, embarrassment, stigma, taboo, or sociocultural beliefs (21.7%), financial barriers or cost concerns (21.7%), access, facility, vaccine availability, or health-system constraints (6.7%), and provider time or outreach limitations (3.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Context-specific interventions are needed to strengthen healthcare professional engagement, improve access to screening and vaccination, and support culturally appropriate patient education. These findings may help policymakers design practical strategies to improve uptake of cervical cancer prevention in Indonesia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among healthcare professionals involved in cervical cancer prevention in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ethical approval Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (2024/652) and the Prof. Dr R. D. Kandou General Hospital Health Research Committee, Indonesia. Data were collected from December 2024 to March 2025, and frequency analysis was conducted in Excel.
RESULTS: A total of 124 healthcare professionals completed the survey, 53.2% were primary care physicians, 43.5% obstetricians/gynaecologists, and 3.2% pathologists. HPV vaccination was most frequently identified (68.5%) as the most effective prevention method, but also the most underutilised cervical cancer prevention strategy (35.5%). 53.9% perceived Indonesian women as poorly informed about cervical cancer. Major barriers to cervical cancer prevention were the lack of patient awareness (37.1%), high cost (29.3%), lack of resources (10.3%), patient hesitancy or fear of the vaccine or screening (9.8%); difficulty accessing healthcare services and other barriers were less frequently reported (0.9% each). Overall, 53.9% of the respondents encountered challenges when educating patients, mainly related to the low health literacy levels (25.0%), refusal or low perceived need (21.7%), fear, embarrassment, stigma, taboo, or sociocultural beliefs (21.7%), financial barriers or cost concerns (21.7%), access, facility, vaccine availability, or health-system constraints (6.7%), and provider time or outreach limitations (3.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Context-specific interventions are needed to strengthen healthcare professional engagement, improve access to screening and vaccination, and support culturally appropriate patient education. These findings may help policymakers design practical strategies to improve uptake of cervical cancer prevention in Indonesia.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EPH32
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
SDC: Oncology, SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health