Supporting the uptake of cervical screening within communities experiencing health inequalities

Healthwatch Islington describes the third year (2025–2026) of a community outreach project in Islington aimed at increasing cervical screening uptake among women experiencing health inequalities. The project built on previous work and focused particularly on Somali, Turkish, Eritrean, Middle Eastern, North African and Latin American communities, while also introducing information about HPV vaccination.

The programme used a community-led model involving trained “Cancer Champions,” wellbeing workshops, and one-to-one conversations. Eight champions from five organisations were trained to provide culturally sensitive information and support. A total of 11 workshops were delivered to 186 women, and 98 women took part in follow-up one-to-one discussions about screening.

The workshops were highly rated, with 98% of participants reporting that the information was good or very good. Women said they felt more informed about cervical screening, HPV, and the vaccination. Among those not regularly attending screening, over half reported they were more likely to book an appointment after attending a session. The introduction of HPV vaccine information also improved attitudes, with 70% of respondents becoming more open to vaccinating their children.

The involvement of clinicians in workshops was a key strength of the project. Most participants found this highly useful, as it increased trust, allowed them to ask questions, and improved understanding. Clinicians also benefited by gaining insight into community experiences and improving their communication approaches.

One-to-one conversations revealed that many women were not attending screening regularly, and some were unclear about what “regular attendance” means. The main barriers identified were lack of understanding about the purpose and process of screening, cultural beliefs, anxiety, and previous negative experiences. Practical barriers such as difficulty booking appointments and language issues were also reported.

Feedback showed that better information and support could significantly improve attendance. Many women said they would be more likely to attend if they understood the procedure and its importance, received help with booking, or could request a female practitioner. However, a small number of women said nothing would change their decision, particularly among some Eritrean and Somali participants.

Community-specific findings highlighted that misconceptions about eligibility and risk—particularly among some Muslim women—limited uptake, while Latin American and Turkish groups generally showed higher engagement. Negative past experiences and cultural sensitivities, including issues related to FGM, were also important factors influencing behaviour.

Overall, the project demonstrated that community-based, culturally tailored interventions are effective in improving awareness and intentions to attend cervical screening. The report recommends continuing clinician involvement, improving targeted health education, expanding translated materials, demonstrating the screening process more clearly, scaling up community-led approaches, and accelerating the rollout of HPV self-sampling to reduce barriers.