Background Cervical cancer screening has been effective in reducing incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, leading European countries to implement screening programs. However, migrant women show lower screening participation compared to nationals. This scoping review aims to provide a synthesis of the growing evidence on factors associated with participation in cervical cancer screening among migrant women in Europe. Methods Electronic peer-reviewed databases were searched in November 2019 for studies on factors related to the participation of migrants in cervical cancer screening conducted in EU/EFTA countries, using comprehensive search expressions. Retrieved articles were screened and those eligible were selected for data extraction. Quantitative and qualitative studies were included. Factors were classified in barriers and facilitators and were divided into further categories. Results Twenty out of 96 articles were selected and analyzed. Factors associated with participation in cervical cancer screening were classified in categories related to sociodemographic, healthcare-system, psychological, migration, knowledge, language, and cultural factors. Lack of information, lack of female healthcare providers, poor language skills, and emotional responses to the test (especially fear, embarrassment and discomfort) were the most reported barriers to cervical cancer screening. Encouragement from healthcare providers and information available in migrants’ languages were frequently stated as facilitators. Results on the role of sociodemographic factors, such as age, education, employment and marital status, are the most conflicting, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the possibility of interactions between factors, resulting in different effects on cervical cancer screening participation among migrant women. Several identified barriers to screening are like those to access to healthcare services in general. Conclusions Efforts to increase migrant women’s participation in CCS must target barriers to access to healthcare services in general but also specific barriers, including cultural differences about sexuality and gender, past traumatic personal experiences, and the gender and competences of healthcare professionals performing CCS. Healthcare services should strengthen resources to meet migrants’ needs, including having CCS information translated and culturally adapted, as well as healthcare providers with skills to deal with cultural background. These findings can contribute to improve CCS programs among migrant women, reducing health disparities and enhancing their overall health and well-being.

Cervical cancer is the second cancer with the highest incidence and mortality in women aged 15–44 living in Europe. Screening is an effective strategy to reduce these rates, although in Portugal, as in other European countries, adherence to screening still presents significant disparities. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with cervical cancer screening (CCS) nonadherence in Portugal. Cross-sectional data from 5929 women aged 25–64 included in the 2014 Portuguese National Health Survey (2014 NHS) were analyzed. The prevalence of CCS nonadherence was estimated. The association between multiple factors and CCS nonadherence was analyzed, using logistic regression, adjusting for age and educational level. The weighted prevalence of nonadherence was 13.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.0–14.0]. Additionally, 10.5% of women had performed the last cervical cytology 3 years ago or more. Higher odds of nonadherence to screening were found for younger women, with low levels of education and income, unemployed, single, born outside Portugal, who never had a medical appointment or had over 12 months ago, who were never pregnant and who had never had a mammography. No association was found with other variables studied, including having public/private health insurance, BMI or smoking status. This study showed that inequalities in CCS adherence in Portugal persist. These findings reinforce the need for developing strategies to reduce inequalities in CCS adherence.

Background: Social Prescribing (SP) is an intervention to link users of the primary healthcare services to non-clinical organizations based on the community to tackle social determinants of health. Despite the potential benefits of SP, the effectiveness of this complex intervention remains uncertain. This paper presents the study protocol of the evaluation of the first SP project in Portugal. Methods:A mixed-methods study will be conducted to evaluate the SP project. For the quantitative component, a longitudinal, prospective study with a pre-post design will be performed. Data on patients referred to SP will be collected in four different points in time throughout the intervention, using questionnaires on patients' health status and sociodemographic characteristics, and scales on patients' well-being, quality of life and activation. The secondary data will be collected using patients' medical records and SP's forms about the referral and social responses elaborated within the intervention. Semi-structured interviews with patients and focus groups with stakeholders will be conducted to assess experiences of participation and improvement suggestions on SP. Conclusion:Comprehensive and complementary evidence will provide insights and learning for the implementation of future SP interventions. This can contribute to inform policy and practice, and to increase investment in social prescribing interventions.