Objective: In 2020, cervical cancer was the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Cervical cancer screening increases the possibility of early diagnosis and treatment. This research was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and behavior of women aged 30-65 years who were registered with the Family Health Center (FHC) regarding cervical cancer screening.

Material and Method: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study, and 400 women registered at three different FHCs in the Fatih district of İstanbul were included in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and behaviors related to cervical cancer were investigated. Besides, the Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 (TSOY-32) was used to collect the data.

Results: The most common cervical cancer screening method known was the Pap smear test with 72.1%. On the other hand, 20.3% of the participants had never been screened for cervical cancer. The most common reason for women to be screened was regular health check-ups and advice from the health worker. Among the women, 9.8% had inadequate health literacy, and 23.2% had problematic health literacy. As age, education, income level, and health literacy level increased, women’s participation in cervical cancer screening increased in a statistically significant manner.

Conclusion: The current study showed that while women's knowledge about cervical cancer screening was at a good level, the rate of regular screening was not at the desired level. Participation in community- based cervical cancer screening can be increased through activities aimed at increasing women's education and health literacy levels.

HPV Health literacy Cervical cancer Screening