Prevalence and factors associated with cervical cancer preventive screening in a Peruvian region.

Introduction: Preventive screening for cervical cancer is the best available strategy to reduce the incidence and mortality from this neoplasm. However, the low proportion of women who undergo routine screening is a pending concern for healthcare systems worldwide.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with preventive cervical cancer screening in a Peruvian region.

Methods: Cross-sectional, multicenter study. It enrolled 1146 women users of healthcare centers in a Peruvian sanitary region. The dependent variable was the performance of cervical cancer preventive screening with Papanicolaou or visual inspection with acetic acid in the last two years. The independent variables were sociodemographic and socio-sanitary factors, knowledge about cervical cancer and human papillomavirus, attitudes and information towards screening tests. To evaluate the association between the variables, crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated with generalized linear models of Poisson.

Results: The overall prevalence of preventive screening was 50.5%. This was associated with being tested, having a higher education level and urban area of residence, using contraceptive methods, having health insurance, being recommended by healthcare personnel to be screened, and being concerned about developing cervical cancer. It was also associated with responding that this cancer is preventable, being aware of cervical cancer or human papillomavirus, and believing it can cause cervical cancer. In contrast, considering preventive screening risky was associated with not having the test.

Conclusions: The proportion of women with preventive cervical cancer screening is low. In addition, certain associated modifiable factors were identified, which could improve preventive screening behaviors and rates.