Cervical Cancer Screening Coverage — China, 2018–2019
Mei Zhang, Yijing Zhong, Limin Wang, Heling Bao, Zhengjing Huang, Zhenping Zhao, Xiao Zhang, Chun Li, Kelly Liang Sun, Jing Wu, Xiaoying Zheng, Lınhong Wang
Abstract
What is already known about this topic?: The World Health Organization set a 2030 target of 70% cervical cancer screening coverage for women aged 35-45 years. Coverage stood at 37% in China in 2015. What is added by this report?: In 2018-2019, China's cervical cancer screening coverage reached 43.4% in women aged 35-44 years and 36.8% in women aged 35-64 years. Screening coverage was still lower in rural areas as well as central and western regions; large variations existed across provincial-level administrative divisions. What are the implications for public health practice?: National and local policy and financial support should be maintained for cervical cancer screening, along with more targeted health education and outreach efforts and strengthened accessibility of health services in the rural areas and central and western regions.