Undergoing a Pap smear screening is widely accepted as a costeffective screening for detection of cervical abnormalities. In Peninsular Malaysia, cervical cancer was the second commonest cancer among women with incidence rate of 17.8 per 100,000 populations in 2002. Despite the high incidence of cervical cancer, only 26% of eligible woman had undergone Pap smear screening. To determine the prevalence of Pap smear screening, reasons for not undergoing the screening as well as the associated sociodemographic factors among women in Mukim Jaya Setia, a crass-sectional study was conducted in ]anuary 2005. Two hundred and ninety five from 350 households were randomly selected by using a Random Digit Table. Two hundred and eighty consented married women, aged 18 years and above were interviewed by the trained interviewers using structured
questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of socio-demographic characteristic, Pap smear screening practice and risk factors of cervical cancer. There were 280 women who responded to the questionnaires. Majority of them were housewives (75%) and with low income (84.3%). Most ofthe women completed their education up to lower secondary school only (95%). Only 144 (51.4%) women undergo Pap smear screening but not on a regular basis. Most of them were screened only once, which was more than 3 years ago. Lack of knowledge, no accommodation, feel unnecessary and shy and no time were among the reasons that deterred the women from Pop smear screening. Women who were younger and with higher education level had more Pap smear screening compared to the older and with low education level. The practices of Pap smear screening among women in these villages were still low and was associated with age and educational level.