Most Indonesian women have never undergone cervical cancer screening. This phenomenon is depicted in the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (Survei Kesehatan Indonesia or SKI) conducted by the Ministry of Health.
It was recorded that the majority, or 92.2%, of respondents from married women aged 15 and over had never had a cervical cancer detection test, such as a Pap smear or visual inspection with acetic acid (IVA).
Meanwhile, only 3.7% of respondents underwent cervical cancer screening at least once a year, and 4.1% did so more than once a year.
Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono stated that one way to address cervical cancer in Indonesia is through early screening.
“One of the leading causes of death from cancer among women in Indonesia is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening is one of the main modalities for tackling the high mortality rate from cervical cancer in Indonesia,” said Dante, as quoted from the Ministry of Health website on Friday (2/2/2024).
The Ministry of Health is also implementing several strategies, such as providing HPV vaccination to school-aged girls.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health also aims to screen 75% of all women aged 30-69 years. Screening is conducted using the HPV DNA test method with appropriate clinical protocols.