Abstract:
Background
Cervical cancer (CC) is preventable, yet remains a significant public health threat, partic-
ularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite considerable awareness, screening rates for CC in
Kenya are low and loss to follow-up following treatment for premalignant cervical lesions
remains high. This study investigates the efficacy of the Cancer Tracking System (CATSys-
tem), a web-based intervention, to improve CC screening and treatment retention.
Methods
A matched, cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted in Kenyan government
hospitals (n = 10) with five intervention and five standard-of-care (SOC) sites. The pri-
mary outcome is the proportion of women with a positive screen who receive appropriate
treatment (onsite or referral). Secondary outcomes include CC screening uptake among
all women and timeliness of treatment initiation. We will utilize mixed methods to assess
intervention feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness.
Discussion
The CATSystem has the potential to improve CC care in Kenya by leveraging existing
technology to address known barriers in the screening and treatment cascade. This study
will provide valuable evidence for potential scale-up of the intervention.
