Women in the South and West were screened for cervical cancer at lower yearly rates than women in the Midwest and Northeast, according to a study published Oct. 16 in JAMA Network Open. Researchers analyzed electronic health records for up to about 15 million patients a year from 2019 through 2024.
In 2024, the South had the lowest yearly screening rate, at 12.27%, followed by the West at 13.47%, the Northeast at 14.07%, and the Midwest at 16.20%. The authors wrote that the findings "identify persistent inequities" in screening that should inform future research and public health efforts.
