Cervical screening falls in Brighton and Hove

There has been a general fall in the uptake for cervical screening, also known as smear tests

Fewer women are taking up cervical screening in Brighton and Hove, although the decline is in line with national trends.

In Brighton and Hove fewer than half the 25 to 49-year-old women called for testing have been taking up the offer.

Cervical screening, also known as a smear test, looks for abnormal cells which could develop into cancer.

Councillor Faiza Baghoth, who is a doctor, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that fear of pain and an unpleasant experience were reasons given for women not taking up the offer of screening.

She said: "I know that normally there would be no pain and very little at all discomfort."

In Brighton and Hove, from 2010 to 2023, there has been a downward trend across all age groups although it is more pronounced among women aged 25 to 49.

In particular, fewer women in north and central Brighton are attending screening. The rate, 46.9%, compares with 72% in West Hove.

In 2010, 72.4% of women aged 25 to 49 went for screening. This was down to 59.2% in 2023.

Among the 50 to 64 age group, the downward trend was less pronounced, with a drop from 76.7% in 2010 to 72.8% in 2023.

In this age group, the Preston Park community had the highest attendance, but in all areas more than 65% of older woman had taken up screening.

The number of young people taking up the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has not yet recovered to pre-covid-19 levels.

The NHS has worked with the Clare Project which supports trans, non-binary, gender-variant and gender-questioning people to give advice on cervical screening.

The advice was that anyone who had changed their gender would need to ensure that their GP practice was aware so that they did not "fall out of the automated system".