Nursing

Linguistics

Philosophy

Public health

Developing country

Archaeology

Cervical cancer

Economics

Environmental health

Armenian

Geography

Cervical cancer screening

Family medicine

Internal medicine

Framing (construction)

Gynecology

Medicine

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Low and middle income countries

Cancer

Social Science & Medicine

Roughly 90 percent of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the lack of adequate infrastructures hampers screening, while informational, cultural, and socio-economic barriers limit participation in the few programs that do exist. We conducted a field experiment with the Armenian cervical cancer screening program to determine whether, despite these barriers, the simple, economical invitation strategies adopted in high-income countries could enhance screening take-up in LMICs. We find that letters of invitation increase screening take-up, especially when there are follow-up reminders. Different ways of framing messages appear to have no impact. Finally, women in rural areas are more likely to respond to invitation by letter, helping to narrow the urban-rural screening gap.

Cervical cancer screening invitations in low and middle income countries: Evidence from Armenia