Cervical Cancer Screening Rates Among Chinese Women — China, 2023–2024
Mei Zhang, Limin Wang, Xiao Zhang, Chun Li, Zhenping Zhao, Mengting Yu, Maigeng Zhou, Jing Wu, Lınhong Wang
Abstract
What is already known about this topic?: The Chinese government has established targets for cervical cancer screening coverage among women of appropriate age: 50% by 2025 and 70% by 2030. Previous data from 2018-2019 indicated that 36.8% of women aged 35-64 years had been screened in China. What is added by this report?: In 2023-2024, screening rates reached 51.5% among women aged 35-64 years, 57.9% among women aged 35-44 years, and 36.8% among women aged 20 years and above. Rural screening coverage (48.2%) approached but remained slightly below the 50% target. Several regions, particularly in the Eastern, Central, and Southern regions have achieved the 2025 target. Significant determinants of low cervical cancer screening coverage among Chinese women encompassed lower educational attainment, unemployment status, limited household income, lack of health insurance coverage, and absence of health check-ups. What are the implications for public health practice?: Intensified implementation of the Action Plan to Accelerate Elimination of Cervical Cancer is needed, particularly in rural areas with suboptimal screening rates. Enhanced health education and service delivery should target women of lower socioeconomic status to facilitate their active participation in screening programs.