Almost a third of women in their 20s have never been screened for cervical cancer
The percentage of women in their 20s who have never been screened for cervical cancer has been increasing at a disturbing rate over the past 20 years—to the point that almost a third of women ages 21 to 29 have never been screened.
The study published in JAMA Network Open reveals a concerning rise in women who have never been screened for cervical cancer, particularly in the 20s. Almost a third of women aged 21 to 29 have never received screening, and 15% of those aged 30 to 64 fall into the same category. This trend has been increasing by around 5% each year over the past two decades.
The research, led by Kalyani Sonawane from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, used self-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey, which may be subject to some recall bias. The lack of screening is coinciding with a rise in more advanced stages of cervical cancer diagnoses among women aged 30 to 64. One notable finding is that 45% of women in their 20s are not vaccinated against HPV, indicating they are not protected by the first line of defense.
The study also highlights disparities in screening rates, with uninsured women, those living in the South, and racial minorities being disproportionately affected.
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