Regularity of cervical cancer screening in Korea: analysis using national public data for 12 years

Objective: To assess the frequency of regular uptake of national cervical cancer screening (CCS) program and identify associated factors among Korean women. Methods: This study is a fundamental investigation that employs openly accessible public data of Korea through secondary data analysis. A cohort of 4,663 women from the 2007–2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, was followed up for up to 12 years (2007–2018) to obtain the frequency of national CCS. Compliance level with CCS was categorized, and an ordinal logistic regression model was employed to investigate the contributing factors. Results: The regular uptake of CCS in South Korea was low at 18.9%. The trend of regular screening showed significant association with various factors, including age (40–59 years), household income (100%–150% bracket), occupation (service workers), place of residence (small to medium sized cities), education level (middle school graduates), marital status (married), and possession of private insurance. Moreover, individuals with a history of non-cervical cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix, a family history of cervical cancer, or a higher frequency of general check-ups demonstrated a stronger adherence to regular CCS uptake. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that regular participation in CCS in Korea was lower than anticipated, with factors such as socioeconomic status, personal history of gynecologic issue, and frequency of general health check-ups playing influential roles. However, further research, including an exploration of unexamined psychological barriers to screening, is necessary to gain a better understanding the reasons behind the reduced rates of regular CCS among Korean women.