HPV self-sampling to improve cervical screening for women in Zaporizhzhia during the war
Official title: Human Papillomavirus Self-sampling for Enhancing Cervical Screening During the War in Ukraine
Run by Karolinska Institutet · NCT07275333 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether giving women aged 30–60 in Zaporizhzhia HPV self-sampling kits can keep cervical screening going when clinic access is disrupted by the war.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 30 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Karolinska Institutet Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zaporizhzhya) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 18, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07275333 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Women aged 30–60 with an intact uterus who are eligible for cervical screening under local guidelines, able to consent, and able to perform self-sampling are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Women who are pregnant, have had a total hysterectomy, have a known diagnosis of cervical cancer, or cannot perform self-sampling are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The project invites women aged 30–60 who have not had a recent negative HPV test to receive a self-sampling kit from their primary care provider and return a specimen for laboratory HPV testing. Samples will be processed with established HPV testing and quality assurance procedures supported by experienced Swedish partners, and participants with positive results will be referred for follow-up care. The approach adapts organized screening methods to conditions where clinic-based services are limited by conflict and displacement. Implementation outcomes such as kit return rates, test positivity, and feasibility in the local context will be measured.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could maintain or increase access to cervical screening during conflict and help find high-risk HPV infections earlier.
How similar studies have gone: HPV self-sampling has increased screening participation and detected high-risk infections in many civilian settings, although applying it during active armed conflict is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Female aged 30-60 years * Intact uterus (no prior hysterectomy) * Eligible for cervical cancer screening according to local guidelines * Able to provide informed consent * Able to perform self-sampling at home or at a clinic Exclusion Criteria: * History of total hysterectomy * Pregnancy at the time of enrollment * Known diagnosis of cervical cancer * Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent * Unable to perform self-sampling or comply with study procedures
Where it's running
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Educational and Scientific Medical Center "Universitetskaya Klinika", Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Olexiy Kovalyov, Professor — Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University
- Study coordinator: Laila Sara Arroyo Mühr, PhD
- Email: sara.arroyo.muhr@ki.se
- Phone: +46700917250
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.