Factors influencing compliance with cervical cancer screening guidelines among women aged 30 to 49 years in Morocco

Jamila Taouaf, Mohamed Loukid, Saloua Lamtali

Abstract

Cervical cancer screening (CCS) is vital for its prevention. Morocco is implementing a screening program targeting women aged 30 to 49 years, who are invited to undergo screening tests such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). This study aimed to explore the factors influencing compliance with CSS guidelines among these women. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a face-to-face questionnaire survey among women, attending health centers and recruited from the Department of Gynecology at the University Hospital Mohammed VI in Marrakech, Morocco. The study was conducted between 2024 and 2025, it included 398 women aged 30 to 49 years. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with compliance. The  CCS compliance rate was 7.8%. Factors associated with non-compliance included living area and fear of testing positive. Awareness campaigns and targeted interventions are recommended to increase the screening coverage among this population.

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