Investigating the Acceptability of Cervical Screening and Self-Sampling in Postnatal Women at the 6-Week Postnatal Check-Up: A Qualitative Study.
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Authors
Newhouse, Rebecca
McWilliams, Lorna
Baker-Rand, Holly
Cullimore, Victoria
Davidson, Emma
Sundar, Sudha
Morrison, Jo
Issue Date
2026-Feb
Type
Journal Article
Language
en
Keywords
attitudes , cervical screening , mother/female parent , postnatal , self‐sampling
Alternative Title
Abstract
Introduction: There is a lack of evidence to support UK and international clinical recommendations to delay cervical screening to 12-weeks postnatal. In previous studies, half of women were out of date for screening by the end of pregnancy and the majority would be more likely to take up cervical screening, if offered at the 6-week postnatal check-up. We explored views about postnatal cervical screening the acceptability of offering cervical screening, using conventional and urine self-sampling, earlier within the postnatal period.
Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative design was used with recruitment from a larger questionnaire-based study. Twenty-six online semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 pregnant or recently pregnant participants. Interviews were transcribed and pseudonymised. A topic guide was developed, and data analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Three themes were generated from qualitative analysis of verbatim interview transcripts: 1) A window of opportunity; 2) Am I ready yet? Postpartum recovery; and 3) Neglect of women's health in and around pregnancy. Overall, there was a perception that women's health was not a priority in the postnatal period compared with their babies.
Conclusion: This is the first study to use qualitative interview methods to explore women's views about the offer of cervical screening alongside the postnatal check-up. Results support the feasibility of a clinical trial to test the accuracy and effect on uptake of offering cervical screening at the postnatal check-up, although recognised it might be too soon for some. This should be considered in future feasibility research that includes assessment of concurrent acceptability.
Patient or public contribution: This study was performed following focus groups in a quality improvement project, designed to increase uptake of cervical screening in women and people who were pregnant or recently pregnant. The suggestion for combining cervical screening with the routine 6-week postnatal follow up was an idea generated by new parents and GP practice staff. The Somerset Maternity Voices group provided feedback on study materials, including the consent form and posters. The semi-structured interview topic guide was designed following free-text comments in the pre-PINCS web-based survey, results of which are published separately. Female pregnant and recently pregnant people, regardless of current gender identity, were included in this study. In line with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists language guide, we will use 'women' to describe participants.
Clinical trial registration: Trial was registered with the National Institute for Health and Care Research Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS ID: 55489) and https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/.
Description
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided
the original work is properly cited.
© 2026 The Author(s). Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Citation
Newhouse, R. et al. (2026) 'Investigating the Acceptability of Cervical Screening and Self-Sampling in Postnatal Women at the 6-Week Postnatal Check-Up: A Qualitative Study', Health Expectations 29(1) e70582. Available At: https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70582
Publisher
Wiley
License
© 2026 The Author(s). Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Journal
Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy
Volume
29
Issue
1
PubMed ID
ISSN
1369-7625