FIJI 2025 STEPS survey findings revealed 38.5 per cent of women had never received a breast or cervical cancer screening, while 43.7 per cent had undergone cervical cancer screening and only 18.9 per cent had received a breast examination by a doctor. Education on self-breast examination stood at 39.9 per cent.
Dr Devina Nand, head of wellness at Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services warned at the launch of the STEPS survey last Friday, that screening coverage remained far below what was needed to reduce the country’s high cancer burden.
“The population that neither had breast nor cervical screening made up 38.5 per cent, which means we still have a lot of effort to reach everyone who needs this screening access,” Dr Nand said.
The survey showed screening rates improved with age, rising from just 17.8 per cent among women aged 18 to 29 to 64 per cent among those aged 45 to 59. The Eastern Division recorded the highest cervical screening uptake at 66.9 per cent.
However, uptake of breast screening remained particularly low. Only 1.4 per cent of women reported receiving breast screening by a doctor alone, while just 11.6 per cent had accessed all three forms of screening, cervical screening, doctor breast screening, and self-examination education.
“Very low rates, we’re really talking about the high rates of cervical and breast cancer we see.”
“Investment into concerted programs for breast screening and cervical screening needs attention.”
She said the findings highlighted the urgent need for stronger awareness campaigns, improved access to screening services and expanded outreach to younger women, who remained the least likely to undergo screening.
