Effectiveness of a Cervical Cancer Stigma Reduction Intervention Program on Cancer Stigma Score and Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Nepal

April 12, 2026 updated by: Priyanka Timsina, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
It is an interventional study to assess the effectiveness of the cervical cancer stigma reduction intervention on cancer stigma score and cervical cancer screening uptake in Nepal

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Despite the presence of ample evidence, that stigma is one of the major reasons for low screening coverage, Nepal does not have a single stigma reduction intervention targeted among women to increase cervical cancer screening coverage. Therefore, we aim to assess the effectiveness of a stigma reduction education program on stigma score and cervical cancer screening uptake in Nepal. We will conduct an interventional study in Budanilkhantha Municipality. A computer-based program will randomly allocate the 12 wards of Budanilkhantha Municipality with an allocation ratio 1:1; 6 wards in intervention group and 6 wards in control group. We will conduct a "stigma reduction education program" in the intervention group. After that we will follow up the participants for 2 months to see the effectiveness of a stigma reduction education program on stigma score and cervical cancer screening uptake in Nepal. We will analyze data using STATA 14. We will use independent tests to find the mean difference between cervical cancer screening uptake and cervical cancer stigma score. The difference in mean among the two groups will actually be the difference due to intervention given. Findings from this study will help managers and stakeholders to formulate and improve strategies on screening programs and develop programs to reduce stigma on cervical cancer among women in Nepal.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

310

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Nepal
    • Province-3
      • Kathmandu, Province-3, Nepal
        • Budanilkantha Municipality

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

30 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women aged 30-60 years (the age range recommended for VIA screening in Nepal
  • Married women
  • Residents of Budanilkantha Municipality

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women who have already undergone screening within 5 years.
  • Women with hearing or mental disorders
  • Pregnant women
  • Less than 6 weeks postpartum
  • Mothers who had lived in the community for less than 6 months to perform seasonal work (e.g. in brick kilns) or visitors in the family.
  • Women who are already diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer and cancer and have undergone hysterectomy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Arm
Randomization will allocate women to intervention and control arm in 1:1 ratio; with 6 wards in each group. The intervention arm will consist of 153 women who will receive "Cervical Cancer Stigma Reduction Intervention".
Behavioral: "Cervical Cancer Stigma Reduction Intervention"

Change in knowledge:

Cervical cancer burden in Nepal, signs and symptoms, preventive measures available, lifestyle modifications, HPV vaccination, early diagnosis, screening, and treatment.

Change in Stigma

  1. Para-social contact

    • Video of a person facing cervical cancer what symptoms she got, how she dealt with it, and how she overcame it.
    • Experiences of a cervical cancer survivor so that women personalize the information by relating it to their own life experiences by changing their attitude and behavior.

  2. Participatory learning techniques

    • Personal stories: Voluntary self-reflection of any stigma they perceive on cervical cancer or their community perceives cervical cancer.
    • Group Discussion: Discuss the drivers of stigma, facilitators of sigma, types of stigma prevalent in your community, and consequences of stigma.
  3. Myths vs facts: Negative attitudes, myths, and misconceptions about cervical cancer will be contraindicated by factual information.
No Intervention: Control Arm
The control arm will consist of 153 women who would not be given any intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean stigma score
Time Frame: Measured at baseline and endline (after 2 months gap from baseline)
Change in mean stigma score using Cancer Stigma Scale at baseline and follow up
Measured at baseline and endline (after 2 months gap from baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cervical cancer screening uptake
Time Frame: Measured within a month after endline
Number of women attending cervical cancer screening program in intervention and control groups
Measured within a month after endline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 15, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

February 15, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 24, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 3, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

August 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 12, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CC2022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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