Spatial variations in cervical cancer prevention in Colombia: Geographical differences and associated socio-demographic factors

•Spatial patterns in HPV vaccine awareness and Pap testing were similar in Colombia.•Spatial variations were related to area-measured socio-demographic factors.•Vaccine awareness and Pap test frequency were low in peripheral areas of Colombia.•Results could help target high-risk areas in Colombia for CC prevention programmes.

We examined spatial variations in the frequencies of women who had not heard of human papillomavirus vaccination (NHrd-Vac) and who had not had Pap testing (NHd-Pap) among Colombian administrative divisions (departments), before and after considering differences in socio-demographic factors. Following global and local tests for clustering, Bayesian Poisson hierarchical models identified department factors associated with NHrd-Vac and NHd-Pap, as well as the extent of the spatially structured and unstructured heterogeneity. Models of spatial variations for both outcomes included the department percentage of women with subsidised health insurance. The relative risks of NHrd-Vac and NHd-Pap were highest in several departments adjacent to the Colombian border. Our finding that the risk of not having adequate access to cervical cancer (CC) prevention programmes in Colombia was location-dependent, could be used to focus resources for CC prevention programmes.