The cervical cancer screening rate in Belgium has experienced a downward trend from 2013 to 2023, with the percentage of women aged 20-69 screened decreasing from 59.2% to 43.9%. This represents a CAGR of approximately -2.88% over the last five years. Notable year-on-year variations include significant drops in 2014 (-10.64%), 2020 (-7.68%), and continued smaller declines in subsequent years, with a -1.35% drop from 2022 to 2023.
Looking ahead, forecasts from 2024 to 2028 predict a continued decrease at an average rate of -1.08% per year, culminating in a projected screening rate of 41.1% by 2028. This forecasts a total decrease of around 5.3% over this period.
Future trends to watch for include advancements in screening technologies, changes in public health policies, and public awareness campaigns, which could potentially mitigate the declining trend or even reverse it, improving screening rates in the coming years.
