TITA is the meeting point for a community of women to access information, experiences and support.

Previous studies conducted by our multidisciplinary team have shown that cell phone communication is an effective tool to improve the process of cervical cancer prevention, thus advancing towards the goals of elimination of the disease established by the World Health Organization.

TITA is another step in the use of information and communication technologies to get more HPV-positive women into the care process.

The name TITA is a tribute to the beloved singer and actress Tita Merello, remembered for her voice in the tango Se dice de mí and for having participated in the first Argentine film ¡Tango! among many other works. In 1980, after receiving a positive Papanicolaou test, she underwent surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas and then continued with the treatment. Tita understood that early detection thanks to that study had saved her life and decided to spread its importance in the media. Her iconic voice and the phrase that became her trademark are still remembered today: “Woman, girl, get a Pap smear”.

Also, in many Latin American countries Tita means “aunt” and refers to the aunt in the family who is wise, who has a vast experience in life and we can contact her when we have a problem or a question.

The content of the App is organized in sections:

Information: provides evidence-based facts about HPV and cervical cancer prevention specific to each step of the care continuum, explained in clear and accessible language.

Question Wall: A safe and trusted space where clients can share their questions about their health care, the steps to follow after an HPV test result and the care process. It seeks to promote the exchange of reliable and personalized information, encouraging autonomy in one’s own care.

Step-by-step diary: provides reminders about scheduled medical appointments and stores the history of their journey. In addition, for each milestone in the scheduled care process, the woman receives information related to the stage of her care process.

Stories and testimonials: includes stories about HPV and cervical cancer prevention and testimonials with the experience of HPV-positive women.

Wall of Experiences: The exchange of experiences strengthens mutual support and generates a network of trust and solidarity. Therefore, this is a space designed for users to share their experiences, emotions and lessons learned during the care process. Through first-person testimonies, this section allows them to feel accompanied, to recognize that they are not alone and to find inspiration to follow the recommended care steps.

This study is led by researchers from the Center for the Study of State and Society (CEDES) and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. The Argentine Society of Lower Genital Tract Pathology and Colposcopy (SAPTGIyC), the Argentine League for the Fight Against Cancer (LALCEC) and the Municipality of Ituzaingó has given full support to the project.

Funding

The development of the App is supported by

In addition, the project has a group of international collaborators and an Advisory Board with a broad experience in cervical cancer prevention.

The mobile application for the prevention of cervical cancer was declared of provincial interest by the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires through the Ministry of Production, Science and Technological Innovation.