Cervical Cancer Screening in Transition: Global Challenges and Local Realities

Abstract: Cervical cancer remains a major global public health concern that disproportionally affects women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), despite being largely preventable through effective primary and secondary prophylaxis. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the principal cause of cervical cancer, highlighting the importance of both HPV vaccination and HPV-based screening. This narrative review examines current evidence on the natural history, prevention, and epidemiology of cervical cancer, with particular emphasis on screening practices and emerging innovative methods. It highlights the global patterns in cervical cancer incidence and mortality and provides regional contexts with the specific focus on the evolution of cervical cancer screening techniques, including cytology-based methods, HPV DNA testing, and the increasing role of self-sampling approach. Future perspectives are discussed in relation to the World Health Organization’s cervical cancer elimination strategy. Keywords: cervical cancer, HPV, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, Pap test, HPV genotyping, self-sampling, prevention, healthcare access