Cervical Cancer Screening using VIA and HPV Tests in Three Remote and Rural Villages in the Mount Everest Regions of Nepal

Background Cervical cancer is a major public health concern for women in Nepal, particularly in remote regions where screening uptake and awareness are low. Cervical Cancer screening is not readily available in rural and remote mountain areas of Nepal. It is important to assess factors associated with screening and positive results to outline strategies to mitigate these factors. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from multi-day cervical cancer screening health camps across three villages – Lukla, Khunde, and Bung in the Mount Everest regions, at altitudes ranging from 1,800 to 3,840 meters, in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal. The aim of the study was to assess participants’ demographics, health-related behaviors, knowledge of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV), and cervical cancer screening outcomes. Results Among the 485 eligible study participants (39.8 ± 8 years), most (95.5%) were married, of Sherpa (47%) or Rai (36%) ethnicity, and nearly half had little or no formal education. One-third of the participants had heard of cervical cancer, while only 6.97% were aware of HPV and 3% knew HPV causes cervical cancer. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA): identified 18 women (3.7%) with suspicious pre-cancerous lesions; 13 received cryotherapy on -site, while 5 were referred for further evaluation. Among 262 women tested for HPV in Khunde and Bung, 3.8% were positive for high-risk types, with no overlap between VIA and HPV positive cases. Conclusions The single-visit screening camps were feasible and well-accepted, with strong participation from local women and timely identification of cervical precancer cases. VIA positivity rates were within expected ranges, and the low HPV prevalence may reflect low-risk sexual behavior. Discordance between VIA and HPV testing highlights limitations of VIA as the primary screening tool and supports the need for further evaluation of HPV-based screening. Despite very low awareness of HPV and cervical cancer—likely due to limited education and geographic isolation—women showed high willingness to participate in screening and to vaccinate their daughters. These findings underscore the importance of culturally tailored health education and community-based approaches to improve cervical cancer prevention in remote regions.