US cervical cancer screening rates show regional and demographic disparities

A study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that while cervical cancer screening rates in the United States increased between 2019 and 2024, significant inequities persist across different regions and demographics.

Geographically, women in the South and West recorded lower annual screening rates compared to those in the Midwest and Northeast. In 2024, the South had the lowest rate at 12.27%, followed by the West at 13.47%.

Demographic data shows that Hispanic patients experienced the largest increase in screening uptake, rising from 9.85% to 15.51% over the five-year period. In contrast, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations consistently recorded the lowest screening levels throughout the study. While non-Hispanic White patients initially had the highest rates, they saw the smallest percentage growth during the analyzed timeframe.

These findings come as screening options expand, including new federal guidelines for self-collected HPV tests for women aged 30 to 65 and the 2025 FDA clearance of the first at-home collection kit.