Bridging the Gap: Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening Among Pakistani Women Aged 21-65 – A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant health concern, particularly in middle- and low-income countries, where it is the second leading cause of death among women. In Pakistan, cervical cancer often goes undetected. Despite its preventability through early detection, many Pakistani women face barriers to screening due to insufficient knowledge, cultural stigmas, and limited healthcare access, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Objective : This study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer screening among Pakistani women aged 21–65 and identify barriers to screening in order to propose effective interventions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in various tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan from April to June 2024. Using purposive non-probability sampling, 382 Pakistani women aged 21–65 participated. We collected data via face-to-face interviews using structured pre-tested questionnaires and analyzed it using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to explore associations. Results: The findings revealed that 52.7% of participants were unfamiliar with cervical cancer, and 95% had never undergone a pap smear. The primary barriers to screening included lack of knowledge (62.3%), perceived low risk (34%), lack of family support (12.5%), shyness (17.8%) and cultural or religious beliefs (21.4%). Significant associations (p<0.05) were found between socio-demographic factors and awareness, attitude, and practices towards screening. Conclusion: The study revealed that knowledge, attitude, and practice towards cervical cancer screening were shallow. It highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards cervical cancer screening among Pakistani women, focusing on cultural and religious considerations and enhanced education.