The Role of Pap Smear and HPV Vaccine in Preventing Cervical Cancer: Examining the Knowledge and Utilization among Women from Saudi Arabia

Cervical cancer (CC) is the ninth most prevalent cancer in Saudi Arabia, primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Fortunately, both HPV infection and CC are preventable by effective methods of screening and a successful HPV vaccine; however, knowledge and awareness about these approaches affect their beneficial application. A structured questionnaire of 22 questions included demographic data, CC awareness and associated risk factors, evaluation of Pap smear and HPV vaccine knowledge, and their application was constructed and validated. Participants were exclusively female. It was distributed across the country and scored according to a pre-defined scoring system. Influencing factors of CC, Pap smear, and HPV vaccine knowledge and awareness were examined. A regression model to predict the possibility of performing Pap smear was generated. P-value of 0.05 and less indicated statistical significance in all tests. A total of 2539 women completed the questionnaire. About 41