Education and training of frontline healthcare providers to improve early detection of breast cancer in Seme Sub County, Kenya

International Cancer Institute, Kenya

As part of the Breast Cancer programme, this project was awarded a grant for early detection of breast cancer in October 2021.

Project objectives

The project aimed to train community health volunteers, community health assistants, clinical officers, and nurses to navigate patients to appropriate screening and treatment as well as enhancing community awareness of breast and cervical cancer in Seme Sub County (Kisumu county) in Kenya.

Project description

The project successfully implemented a comprehensive training plan that led to increased community education on breast and cervical cancer, resulting in a higher number of individuals seeking early screening.

120 community health volunteers (CHVs) from four health centres were trained for two days on basics of breast and cervical cancer to be able to educate communities during their routine household visits, encourage routine screening for breast and cervical cancer, and refer appropriately those with suspected lesions.
10 community health assistants (CHAs) who supervise CHVs from these health centres were also trained.
5 health care workers (4 clinical officers and 1 nurse) were trained on breast and cervical cancer screening and biopsy collection procedures. This was done at the largest hospital within the county, where patients were referred for biopsy if needed. 16 fine needle biopsy (FNB) were referred for follow-up.
21 nurses and clinical officers were trained on breast and cervical cancer screening and patient navigation. The training was based on the Kenya National training guidelines for breast & cervical cancer screening. 64 patients with suspicious symptoms were connected to screening.

Following the training, the community health workers undertook household visits, raising cancer awareness reaching 2,690 women in the communities. The project also successfully integrated cervical cancer screening into the breast cancer programme to ensure comprehensive care. This effort was strategically implemented in collaboration with the County Health leadership to ensure sustained community engagement and healthcare access even after the project's conclusion.

Key numbers

151 community health volunteers, health care workers, and patient navigators trained

64 women were screened for breast cancer

16 women received a biopsy

2,690 women educated on breast health from community health volunteers

Impact

Health care workers and CHVs have continued to implement the activities supported by the grant. Breast and cervical cancer screening is still being conducted at health centres, and CHVs remain actively engaged in referring clients with suspected breast cancer for further assessment. The County government has started to support CHVs in referring women with breast masses to local health facilities, which is expected to lead to more women being screened in the community, increased awareness of breast cancer, and hopefully more diagnoses at earlier stages.

While access to the full continuum of care remains a challenge, particularly due to the limited availability of biopsy procedures at health centres and the cost of pathology services for some patients, referrals to the County Referral Hospital in Kisumu are helping to maintain access to diagnostic services, demonstrating ongoing efforts to address these barriers.