Most women are in need of cervical cancer tests

One in two have never had a Pap test, and 66% have not been screened in five years, study shows

Two thirds of women in the UAE need cervical cancer screening, a new study by Dubai Health Authority has found.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, accounting for 7.9 per cent of all cases, the World Health Authority says.

It is also one of the most preventable cancers with routine screening. But women in the Emirates are unaware of the importance of regular screening, healthcare professionals have warned.

“It’s one of the preventative cancers if you detect it early,” said Dr Mahera Abdulrahman, head of research at Dubai Health Authority. “We all need to insist on [screening’s] importance. Women are not aware of the facilities. They don’t have the knowledge.”

The survey found that one in two women had never had a Pap smear test and that two out of three had not had one in the past five years. One in three women were not sure how often to go for routine testing.

The data will be the first step in developing community awareness. All primary healthcare centres in Dubai offer the Pap test and Dr Abdulrahman suggested that insurance companies make regular check-ups mandatory.

Some insurance policies do not cover Pap tests. Daman, the Abu Dhabi health insurance agency, recommends a Pap test every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women between 50 and 65. But the Pap test is only covered on the Thiqa health insurance plan for Emiratis.

Dubai Health Authority’s recently published study surveyed 599 women across the country between September 2016 and March last year.

Women had positive attitudes towards the Pap test, with nearly four out of five agreeing that regular screening was beneficial, although only 58 per cent of women were aware that it was for detecting cervical cancer.

About half of the respondents were in their thirties and 72 per cent were Emiratis. Respondents came from all seven emirates, with 53 per cent living in Dubai. Younger women and those with higher incomes were better informed.

About one in five had not heard of the Pap smear test. Of those who had, most knew of it from their physician.

“We need more marketing and education about the importance of early detection of cervical cancer,” said Dr Vera Beni, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Burjeel Day Surgery Centre at Reem Island. “Many people don’t know what a Pap smear is.”

Dr Beni recommends all sexually active women to be tested regularly for human papillomavirus, which can be tested more accurately. Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are associated with HPV, a common, often symptomless sexually transmitted infection.

“The HPV test is the most important, more important than the pap test,” said Dr Beni, who is a member of the European Cervical Cancer Association. “Unfortunately, there is an increase in HPV and there are many cases.”

“If the HPV test is negative, that means there’s no need to come every year. She can come every three years if she has some stable partner.”

The study urges healthcare professionals to educate patients on the importance of regular testing.

“All women who are sexually active should have this test,” Dr Beni said. “I haven’t had a patient who’s refused to do that test. It just needs more effort from the doctor’s side.”

Dr Abdulrahman gives lectures to family physicians to promote their role. “Women trust gynaecologists and they should tell them that this is very important to do once every three years.”

There are no symptoms of cervical cancer until the disease is advanced.

Dr Beni said checkups must be routine, like going to the dentist. “An early detected change on the cervix can be sorted,” she said. “Any delay of going to the gynaecologist puts you at risk.”

The Department of Health Abu Dhabi has declared January as cervical cancer awareness month.