Awareness, experience and preferences of HPV self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix — The Association Specialists
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  3. Awareness, experience and preferences of HPV self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix

Awareness, experience and preferences of HPV self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix (24205)

Louise E Mitchell 1 , Emily Phillips 1 , Chloe J Jennett 2 , Claire Bavor 3 , Tessa Saunders 3 , Claire Nightingale 3 , Megan A Smith 2 , Julia Brotherton 3 , Gang Chen 3 , Lisa J Whop 1
  1. Yardhura Walani, Australian National University, Canberra, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY, Australia
  2. Cancer Elimination Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia’s Indigenous peoples, experience a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer. Since July 2022, participants in Australia’s National Cervical Screening Program should be offered a choice between collecting their own vaginal sample (self-collection) or undergoing a speculum examination (clinician-collection). This study evaluated awareness, experiences, and preferences for self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants.

Methods: Screen-eligible participants were invited to complete an online survey at two timepoints (Time-1:Dec-2023 to Apr-2024; Time-2: Nov-2025 to Mar-2026). Recruitment primarily occurred via a paid Meta campaign. Analysis was consistent with Rigney’s Indigenist Research Approach, privileging Indigenous voices and upholding Indigenous data sovereignty. A total of 555 participated at Time-1, 307 at Time-2. Time-1 analyses included descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with a preference for self-collection. Analysis of Time-2 data is in progress.

Results: At Time-1, 42% of participants self-reported screening regularly, 44% not-regularly and 14% had never screened. Among those screened since July 2022 (n=261), 45% (n=118) used self-collection; 51% used clinician-collection with a speculum (n=133). 58% were offered a choice of collection methods (n=151/261), with two-thirds choosing self-collection (n=101/151).

Among all participants at Time-1, 50% preferred self-collection for their next screen (n=275/555). Preference for self-collection was higher among not-regular (adjustedOR=1.9, 95%CI=1.2–3.0, p<0.01) and never-screened (adjustedOR=3.5, 95%CI=1.8–6.9, p<0.001) participants than regular screeners, and those in regional/remote areas (adjustedOR=1.6, 95%CI=1.0–2.5, p=0.03) compared to major cities. Despite this, never screened participants were less likely to have heard of self-collection (adjustedOR=0.2, 95%CI=0.1-0.4, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Self-collection is preferred by under- and never-screened Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, but initial awareness was relatively low. Time‑2 analyses will assess change following national awareness campaigns targeting participants and providers, and participant preferences for accessing cervical screening based on responses to a discrete choice experiment.