Dr. Ashish Singh is an MBBS-qualified medical doctor currently undertaking second-year (ST2) training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology through the RCOG overseas pathway at Max Healthcare, India. His clinical experience spans Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi; Max Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow; and Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi. His professional interests include high-risk obstetrics, gynaecological surgery, women’s health, clinical research, and evidence-based maternal healthcare. He completed his MBBS at Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Jaipur, and is pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Singh is actively involved in academic research, scientific publishing, and peer review, with several publications as first, second, and third author in areas including obstetric emergencies, breast health awareness, prenatal diagnosis, gynaecological surgery, and pregnancy-related complications. He has also contributed to the academic community as a peer reviewer for BMJ Case Reports and other medical journals. His conference participation includes an e-poster presentation at RCOG London in 2024, a speaker and poster presentation at the 5th International Conference on Gynecology and Obstetrics in Paris, and poster selections for ASFP 2025 and ASPIRE 2025. In addition to his clinical and academic work, Dr. Singh serves as Director of the Shashakti Foundation, supporting cervical cancer awareness, screening access, subsidized testing, free outpatient services, and HPV vaccination education. He also serves as a Clinical Advisor to Navo Health, Malaysia, and is the author of From the Thought of Conception to Birth: The Journey of a Mother and a Newborn, a patient-focused guide to conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care. His work reflects a strong commitment to advancing women’s health, improving maternal and newborn outcomes, and promoting evidence-based clinical practice through research, education, and community healthcare initiatives.

Understanding Cervical Cancer Screening Behaviors: Insights into Perceptions, Barriers, and Health-Seeking Practices Among Urban Indian Women

Background

India accounts for approximately one-fifth of new cervical cancer cases and nearly one-fourth of cervical cancer-related deaths globally. Despite being one of the most treatable cancers when detected early, low screening rates continue to delay diagnosis, with nearly 50% of cases presenting at an advanced stage.

Methodology

A prospective online questionnaire-based study was conducted from August to October 2025 among 252 women attending the gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary care centre in Delhi. The survey explored gaps in knowledge, misconceptions, perceptions, and barriers contributing to poor cervical cancer screening uptake, aiming to identify actionable strategies to improve awareness, accessibility, and early detection.

Results

The study identified a large unscreened population (62.7%). Factors contributing to poor screening uptake in this group included lack of awareness (40%), limited understanding of screening (5.9%), poor education (24%), low perceived importance (21.7%), and gender dynamics in decision-making (8.4%).

Among the factors contributing to poor screening in the remaining 37.3%, high screening costs (38%), internal testing procedures (1.3%), misconceptions regarding screening frequency (17.4%), myths (16.8%), fear of overdiagnosis (11.9%), belief that HPV vaccination eliminates the need for screening (2.1%), and perception that contraceptive use is sufficient (12.5%) were identified.

Conclusion

The survey highlights significant barriers to cervical cancer screening among Indian women. A large unscreened population (62.7%) is primarily linked to lack of awareness. These findings emphasise the urgent need for targeted awareness campaigns, accessible and affordable screening services, and culturally sensitive educational programmes to promote early detection and reduce the cervical cancer burden in India.