Covid-19 and implementation of cervical cancer screening and prevention A case study of health communication practice in Limpopo Province

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the greatest cause of cancer-related deaths among women in South Africa and many countries worldwide,1 which is a major threat to public health. The planning and execution of cervical cancer screening and prevention programmes in South Africa, notably in the Limpopo Province, have been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study examined how the pandemic affected the planning and execution of cervical cancer awareness and prevention initiatives. It found that the pandemic led to a shortage of resources and workers, which reduced the number of awareness campaigns and screening programmes, while varying levels of public knowledge and understanding of the disease had an impact on screening and diagnosis rates.