Cervical screening attendance in Wales at 10 year low

The latest cervical screening statistics show that the number of women in Wales attending cervical screening is at a 10 year low[1]. In 2015/16 coverage was only 77.8% meaning over 1 in 5 are not attending this life-saving test. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is concerned that if this number keeps increasing then more lives will be lost.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 22-28 January and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is particularly concerned about women aged 25-29 where coverage drops to 75.7%, and 60-64 where coverage drops to 72.7%. Whilst coverage in Wales is the highest in the UK, last year 4 out of 5 health boards did not reach their coverage target of 80%.

The charity is now calling on the public to help them raise awareness of the role of cervical screening in preventing cervical cancer by getting involved with their #SmearForSmear campaign. The campaign is simple; upload a smeared lipstick selfie on social media with the message: Attend your smear, reduce your risk of cervical cancer, and nominate your friends to do the same.

New research by the charity[2] has found over half (51%) of the 25-29 year old UK women surveyed have delayed or not attended cervical screening with almost one quarter (24%) admitting they have delayed for over one year and almost one in ten (9%) having never attended the test which provides the best protection against cervical cancer. Reasons for not attending included simply putting it off (33%), worrying it would be embarrassing (27%) and worrying it would be painful (25%).

When asked about accessing screening, of those who reported delaying or never attending:

• 57% would like the opportunity to attend cervical screening at a GP practice of their choice e.g. one close to work
• 35% would like the opportunity to attend a walk in appointment at a sexual health clinic
• 65% would like the opportunity to self test at home

Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We have one of the best cervical screening programmes in the world saving approximately 5,000 lives every year. However at a time when the number attending in Wales is at a 10 year low, we need to be seeing increased investment in targeted awareness campaigns to encourage women to take up their invitation for cervical screening. Cervical screening prevents 70% of cervical cancers from developing and if we do not prioritise prevention, there will be more women facing the physical and psychological cost of cervical cancer, an increased burden on the NHS and state, and more lives lost.”

Dr Rosemary Fox, Director of the Screening Division of Public Health Wales, said: “It’s positive that eight out of 10 women do attend for their smears and gain the protection against cancer that screening offers. I’d like to encourage the women who have doubts about cervical screening, or find it difficult, not to ignore their screening invitation. I’d advise them to talk to their GP or practice nurse about screening, and give it a try- it could save their life!”

Further findings of the charity’s research include a lack of awareness of the symptoms of cervical cancer with one in five (24%) unable to recognise a single symptom and only half (51%) recognising bleeding outside of periods (the most common symptom) as one. Perception over the role of smear tests was also low, as only half (46%) knew it looks for pre-cancerous cells and almost a quarter (23%) incorrectly think it is a test for ovarian cancer. When asked what increases your risk of cervical cancer, almost two thirds (63%) incorrectly said family history of the disease and one in four (23%) said being overweight 

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For more information, case studies or interviews please contact 020 7250 8311 / 07772 290 064 or email media@jostrust.org.uk  

 

Notes to editors

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 22-28 January 2017 and the charity is launching its #SmearForSmear campaign during the week. The successful campaign which is in its third year sees thousands of people sharing smeared lipstick selfies with the message “Attend your smear test, reduce your risk of cervical cancer”. In 2016 the campaign saw support from celebrities including Cara Delevingne, Lauren Pope and Erin O’Connor reaching millions of people across the world. For more information visit www.jostrust.org.uk/smearforsmear