TITLE:
Single-Visit Approaches for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Implementation
AUTHORS:
Saritha Shamsunder, Nishtha Arora
KEYWORDS:
Cervical Cancer Prevention, Screen-and-Treat, See-and-Treat, HPV Testing, Thermal Ablation, Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Women’s Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
9,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), accounting for nearly 90% of global deaths. Although effective screening and treatment strategies exist, conventional multi-visit screening pathways are frequently associated with substantial loss to follow-up, delayed treatment, and poor programmatic effectiveness. Single-visit approaches (SVA), including screen-and-treat and see-and-treat strategies, have emerged as practical alternatives that simplify care pathways and improve treatment completion. Objective: To review the effectiveness, acceptability, implementation experiences, and future directions of single-visit approaches for cervical cancer prevention in LMICs. Methods: A narrative review of published literature, implementation studies, WHO guidance documents, clinical trials, conference presentations, and institutional experiences was conducted. Evidence related to VIA-based screening, HPV testing, thermal ablation, cryotherapy, same-day excisional treatment, and emerging technologies was examined. Results: Evidence from Africa, Asia, and Latin America demonstrates that single-visit approaches substantially reduce loss to follow-up and improve treatment completion. Studies from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Peru, South Africa, and India have shown high feasibility and acceptability. Thermal ablation has emerged as a particularly attractive treatment modality because of its portability, low maintenance requirements, and suitability for primary care settings. Task-sharing with nurses and midwives has further enhanced program scalability. Emerging innovations including HPV self-sampling, point-of-care HPV testing, and artificial intelligence-assisted visual evaluation, may further strengthen SVA implementation. Conclusions: Single-visit approaches represent an effective and woman-centered strategy for cervical cancer prevention in resource-constrained settings. By reducing barriers to care and facilitating same-day treatment, these approaches can contribute substantially to achieving global cervical cancer elimination targets.