In cervical cancer screening under the National Programme for Non-Communicable Disease Control, the recommended primary screening method for resource-limited settings is:
- A Conventional Pap smear every 3 years from age 21–65
- B HPV DNA testing every 5 years from age 30
- C Liquid-based cytology (LBC) combined with colposcopy from age 25
- D Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) at age 30 and 40 years ✓
Explanation
India's National Programme (under NPCDCS) recommends VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) as the primary cervical cancer screening method for community-level implementation, targeting women at 30 and 40 years. VIA is low-cost, does not require laboratory infrastructure, can be performed by trained ANMs, and allows same-day treatment using the 'screen-and-treat' approach with cryotherapy. HPV DNA testing is recommended by WHO as the preferred method globally but is being scaled in India; Pap smear and LBC require cytology laboratories not universally available at peripheral levels.
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.