On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Data Source: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS
Baseline: 75.0 percent of females aged 21 to 65 years received a cervical cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines in 2019
Target: 79.2 percent
Methodology
Questions used to obtain the national baseline data
From the 2021 National Health Interview Survey:
Numerator:
For female sample adults 18+ who were ever told they have cancer (variables: CANKIND1_A, CANKIND2_A, CANKIND3_A), was cervical cancer mentioned?- Mentioned
- Not mentioned
- Refused
- Not ascertained
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
- Within the past year (anytime less than 12 months ago)
- Within the past 2 years (1 year but less than 2 years ago)
- Within the past 3 years (2 years but less than 3 years ago)
- Within the past 5 years (3 years but less than 5 years ago)
- Within the past 10 years (5 years but less than 10 years ago)
- 10 years ago or more
- Refused
- Don't know
- Yes
- No
- Refused
- Don't know
Methodology notes
Healthy People 2030 uses the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Grade A recommendation to measure this objective: 1. For women aged 21 to 29 years: a Pap test every 3 years; and 2. For women aged 30 to 65 years: a) Pap test every 3 years; or b) a high-risk HPV (hrHPV) test alone every 5 years; or c) a hrHPV test in combination with a Pap test every 5 years. The USPSTF also recommends against routine Pap smear screening for women who have had a total hysterectomy.
Data for this objective include women aged 21 to 65 years who were screened for cervical cancer, as outlined in the USPSTF recommendation. Additionally, women aged 30 to 65 years were also considered up to date if they reported being screened for cervical cancer within the past 3 years but reported not knowing whether they had a Pap test or HPV test at their most recent visit or refused to state which test they had had. Women who reported having a hysterectomy were excluded from the analyses.
The denominator does not include respondents who reported ever having cervical cancer.
Age-adjustment notes
This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:
- Total: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Race/Ethnicity: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Educational Attainment: 25-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Health Insurance Status (21-64 years): 21-34, 35-44, 45-64
- Geographic Location: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Marital Status: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Country of Birth: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Disability Status: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Veteran Status: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
- Sexual Orientation: 21-34, 35-44, 45-65
History
- Revised.
In 2023, due to the 2019 NHIS survey redesign and a revised denominator to exclude women with a history of cervical cancer, the baseline was changed from 80.5% in 2018 to 75.0% in 2019 and the target was changed from 84.3% to 79.2%.
- Revised.
In 2024, the following categories were recalculated with the use of a newer variable: Never married, American Indian or Alaska Native only, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, 2 or more races only, Not Hispanic or Latino American Indian or Alaska Native only, Not Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, Not Hispanic or Latino 2 or more races only. Estimates from data year 2022 or earlier may vary slightly from estimates previously reported. The baseline, baseline year and target were not affected.
1. Effect size h=0.1 was chosen to correspond with 10% improvement from a baseline of 50%.