Cervical cancer screening under the National Cancer Screening Programme (NCSP) currently recommends which primary screening strategy for women aged 30–65 years at the community level?
- A Conventional Pap smear every 3 years
- B Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) with screen-and-treat approach ✓
- C Liquid-based cytology every 5 years
- D HPV DNA testing as the only acceptable method
Correct answer: B. Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) with screen-and-treat approach
Explanation
Given resource constraints at the community level in India, VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic acid) using a screen-and-treat approach (immediate cryotherapy or thermocoagulation for VIA-positive lesions) is the recommended primary cervical screening strategy under NCSP. VIA is simple, low-cost, and provides immediate results at point-of-care. HPV DNA testing is being scaled up but is not yet universally implemented. Pap smear requires laboratory infrastructure.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.