Summary of Session:

Not attending cervical screening is one of the greatest risk factors for developing cervical cancer. Reasons why women do not attend screening are complex. They include psychological factors, such as embarrassment, discomfort, and fear (both of the procedure and the results), cognitive factors, particularly risk factors for cervical cancer, and practical factors such as time, cost and access to screening facilities or a female practitioner. Improving engagement with cervical screening, particularly in underserved populations, requires addressing these barriers and tailoring approaches to meet the specific needs of these communities. In this lecture, I shall present strategies to support screening engagement and present case studies of successful interventions globally.