Year: 2026 | Month: November | Volume: 13 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 106-112
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20261110
Awareness And Strategies to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening – A Review
Mitali Chakraborty1, Mary V J2, Kamatchi. K3
11st year M.Sc. Nursing Student, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, College of Nursing, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, College of Nursing, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, College of Nursing, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Corresponding Author: Mitali Chakraborty
ABSTRACT
Background: Cervical cancer is largely preventable through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, regular screening, early detection and appropriate management of precancerous lesions. Despite the availability of effective screening methods, participation remains inadequate in many populations, particularly among women who are younger, socioeconomically disadvantaged, rural, migrant or otherwise underserved. Limited awareness, misconceptions regarding cervical cancer and screening, fear, embarrassment, stigma, cultural beliefs, lack of social support and barriers related to accessibility and healthcare services contribute to poor screening uptake.
Methods: This review was supported by a comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL, synthesizing evidence on awareness, barriers, and interventions to improve cervical cancer screening uptake. It included systematic and scoping reviews, qualitative studies, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies. Key interventions such as health education, counselling, community outreach, reminders, mHealth, patient navigation, culturally sensitive approaches, HPV self-sampling, and health-system interventions were reviewed.
Results: The reviewed studies showed inadequate awareness and low cervical cancer screening uptake. In India, the national screening prevalence was 1.97%, ranging from 0.2% in West Bengal and Assam to 10.1% in Tamil Nadu. A review of Indian studies reported screening related knowledge, positive attitude, and practice in 20.31%, 43.64% and 13.22% of women respectively. In a Jamaican educational intervention, some knowledge improved by up to 62%, and 40.7% of women undergoing screening at six-month follow-up. In a Portuguese randomized trial, screening adherence was 39.0% with customized SMS and telephone calls increased compared with 25.7% with standard invitations. A meta-analysis found higher participation with HPV self-sampling across invitation strategies.
Conclusion: Improving cervical cancer screening requires more than providing information alone. A comprehensive, accessible and culturally appropriate approach combining health education, counselling, reminders, community outreach, patient navigation, HPV self-sampling and health-system strengthening is needed. Nurses and other healthcare professionals have an important role in increasing awareness, addressing misconceptions, providing counselling and facilitating access to screening services.
Keywords: Cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, awareness, health education, HPV, screening uptake, self-sampling, prevention.
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