The Cervical screening programme is perhaps, one of the most successful public health initiatives. There has been a remarkable decline in the incidences of cervical cancer following its introduction in 1988 (Peto et al, 2004). It was created as a tool which allowed detection of precancerous abnormalities within the squamous epithelium of the cervix (Cooper, 2011). The sample is usually taken by a nurse at a GP practice and then sent to a laboratory for testing (Jo’s Trust, 2016). More recently, in some laboratories, screening for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is performed because it is now understood that this is found in almost 99% percent of cervical cancers (Walboomers et al, 1999). However, despite the evidence that screening for cervical
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HPV is transmitted through close skin to skin contact and most sexually active individuals will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives, however only a small percentage of women will go on to develop precancerous lesions. Nevertheless, the cervical screening programme aims to detect these abnormalities and offer treatment to prevent the possibility of these cervical changes leading to cancer. According to Tiro et al (2007), the link between the two is seldom understood by young women. Ekechi et al (2014) and Farzaneh et al (2011) found that 50% of women did not know that HPV was sexually transmitted. The HPV vaccine, which was introduced in the UK in 2008 (The Green Book, 2014), alters the situation specifically for young women. In view of the fact that the vaccine only protects against types 16 and 18 of the HPV virus, continued participation in the cervical screening programme is paramount (Lynge et al, 2009). Women who were given the vaccine in 2008 were scheduled to be called in 2015 for their first cervical screen; it is not yet apparent how the awareness of HPV and the knowledge of the vaccine will affect screening uptake. There is, however, increasing apprehension that vaccinated women may believe that screening is no longer required. Henderson et al (2011) examined adolescent girls’ and their parents’ perceptions with regards to cervical screening following HPV vaccination. They found that the necessity of screening was often overlooked, regardless of vaccination status. In order to assess the efficacy of the vaccine, continuity of cervical screening is essential; therefore providing accurate educational information at the time of vaccination is imperative (Kollar & Khan,
HPV is transmitted through close skin to skin contact and most sexually active individuals will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives, however only a small percentage of women will go on to develop precancerous lesions. Nevertheless, the cervical screening programme aims to detect these abnormalities and offer treatment to prevent the possibility of these cervical changes leading to cancer. According to Tiro et al (2007), the link between the two is seldom understood by young women. Ekechi et al (2014) and Farzaneh et al (2011) found that 50% of women did not know that HPV was sexually transmitted. The HPV vaccine, which was introduced in the UK in 2008 (The Green Book, 2014), alters the situation specifically for young women. In view of the fact that the vaccine only protects against types 16 and 18 of the HPV virus, continued participation in the cervical screening programme is paramount (Lynge et al, 2009). Women who were given the vaccine in 2008 were scheduled to be called in 2015 for their first cervical screen; it is not yet apparent how the awareness of HPV and the knowledge of the vaccine will affect screening uptake. There is, however, increasing apprehension that vaccinated women may believe that screening is no longer required. Henderson et al (2011) examined adolescent girls’ and their parents’ perceptions with regards to cervical screening following HPV vaccination. They found that the necessity of screening was often overlooked, regardless of vaccination status. In order to assess the efficacy of the vaccine, continuity of cervical screening is essential; therefore providing accurate educational information at the time of vaccination is imperative (Kollar & Khan,