Awareness and Uptake of Pap Tests for Cervical Screening Among Saudi Women

The present study aimed to evaluate the awareness and uptake of Papanicolaou (Pap) tests for cervical screening among women, as well as to identify barriers to testing and the availability of related services.

This cross-sectional study used a health questionnaire distributed via the Absher portal from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. The questionnaire contained five questions and required less than five minutes to complete. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze demographic data, with chi-square tests employed to assess the relationship between these variables and Pap test uptake.

The results revealed the following: 

• The study included 8,194 Saudi women, primarily from Makkah (24.40%), Riyadh (21.92%), and the Eastern region (14.44%). 
• Only 22.52% reported ever having a Pap test, with 17.48% of those tested following a physician's recommendation.
• Private clinics provided 10.73% of the tests, while public clinics provided 8.97%. 
• The main barriers to testing were a lack of knowledge about its importance (40.24%) and insufficient information from physicians (16.96%).
• Awareness of the Pap test was significantly linked to marital status, geographic region, and age group.

To summarize, the findings indicate low awareness of the Pap test for cervical screening among Saudi women, particularly in younger demographics. There is a critical need for targeted educational initiatives to raise awareness and underscore the importance of regular screenings to facilitate early detection and decrease the burden of cervical cancer.

Source: Alfareh M, Obeid D, Alhoshan H, Basri R, Alhamlan FS. Low uptake of Pap test as a cervical cancer screen among Saudi women: Findings from a national survey. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2024 Oct;167(1):154-161. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.15532. Epub 2024 Apr 19. PMID: 38641900.