Targeted and co-developed interventions to address infection-related cancer inequalities

Issue/problem

Infection-related cancers linked to HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HIV remain unevenly distributed across Europe, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as migrants, people experiencing homelessness, or people who inject drugs. Despite available vaccination, screening, treatment, barriers to access persist ranging from the social marginalisation and stigma to fragmented service delivery and care pathways. To bridge this gap, there is an need for targeted, scalable interventions that are grounded in local realities.

Methods

Within the SHIELD project, 19 European partners conducted a country level needs assessments to detect the gaps in prevention, early detection and care. Methods included document analysis, stakeholder consultations, and service mapping to ensure robust baseline. After the initial needs assessment, the work was further co developed with key stakeholders to design tailored intervention strategies.

Results

Findings show consistent gaps across countries: low vaccination uptake, late diagnosis of HCV and HIV, and weak service integration. Vulnerable groups face persistent structural barriers. In response, partners are developing and piloting locally adapted interventions based on the needs assessments. This presentation showcases these interventions, including co-developed outreach, community-based testing and vaccination strategies, and integrated service models for underserved populations.

Conclusions

Our work leverages national needs assessments to development of locally tailored interventions. Involvement of key stakeholders including peers, ensures that interventions are not solely evidence-based but responsive to the specific social, legal and structural barriers faced by underserved populations. Piloting work provides transferable insights for scaling up across diverse settings. Strengthening data systems and cross-sector collaboration is essential for sustainable impact.

Key messages

• Targeted and co-developed interventions improve access to prevention and care for vulnerable populations at risk of infection-related cancers.

• Multi-country needs assessments and intervention designs support learning and the adoption of good practices in addressing inequalities in HPV, HCV and HIV-related cancer prevention across countries.