Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common malignancy among women worldwide. Despite well-developed prevention measures, incidence and mortality continue to rise, especially in low- and middle-income countries due to low screening coverage and unavailability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. The cervical cancer screening coverage could be improved by the implementation of a self-sampling modality for HPV testing. Multiple research pieces support the validity and reliability of a self-sampling modality as an alternative approach to clinician-collected samples for primary cervical cancer screening via HPV genotyping. Moreover, growing research evidence on the self-sampling modality reception shows high acceptance of the method among screened populations. Studies on the self-sampling approach economic efficiency also revealed a high cost-effectiveness of HPV testing through a self-sampling modality compared to other screening modalities for cervical cancer. It is specifically important for low-resource settings, which should use the self-sampling cost advantages to improve cervical cancer screening coverage by attracting underscreened populations. Overall, self-sampling modality has a higher participation rate and better patient satisfaction reported; thus, the method is highly recommended by the World Health Organization for cervical cancer screening.

Cervical cancer remains a major global public health concern that disproportionally affects women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), despite being largely preventable through effective primary and secondary prophylaxis. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the principal cause of cervical cancer, highlighting the importance of both HPV vaccination and HPV-based screening. This narrative review examines current evidence on the natural history, prevention, and epidemiology of cervical cancer, with particular emphasis on screening practices and emerging innovative methods. It highlights the global patterns in cervical cancer incidence and mortality and provides regional contexts with the specific focus on the evolution of cervical cancer screening techniques, including cytology-based methods, HPV DNA testing, and the increasing role of self-sampling approach. Future perspectives are discussed in relation to the World Health Organization's cervical cancer elimination strategy.

Background/Objectives: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are a major cause of life-threatening obstetric hemorrhage and frequently necessitate cesarean hysterectomy. Abdominal aorta balloon occlusion (AABO) has been increasingly adopted as a strategy to reduce intraoperative blood loss during cesarean section. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of AABO during cesarean delivery in women with PAS disorders. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published in English from 2015 to April 2025 was conducted using the following databases: Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Articles that met inclusion criteria focused on human participants, original studies, female participants, and studied the efficacy of AABO on blood loss during cesarean delivery for PAS. Articles that were reviews, case reports, other occlusion procedures, and animal studies were excluded. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Twenty-four studies comprising 1958 cesarean deliveries with AABO and 1791 without AABO met the inclusion criteria. Data on blood loss, transfusion, hysterectomy, maternal complications, and neonatal outcomes were extracted, synthesized, and analyzed. The majority of studies (91.6%) applied the balloon at the infrarenal level. Cesarean delivery with AABO resulted in substantially lower mean blood loss (1231 ± 688 mL vs. 2253 ± 857 mL, p < 0.001) and reduced requirements for blood transfusion compared with cesarean delivery alone. Hysterectomy rates were threefold lower with AABO (7.8% vs. 25.8%, p < 0.001), and the incidence of hemorrhagic shock and re-laparotomy were markedly reduced. Complications associated with AABO, including lower limb arterial thrombosis and fever, were uncommon and generally manageable. Conclusions: AABO during cesarean delivery for PAS disorders is associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss, lower transfusion requirements, and decreased hysterectomy rates, suggesting improved maternal hemodynamic stability. Although the procedure is generally safe, vigilance for vascular and thromboembolic complications is essential, and preventive strategies should be incorporated into perioperative care. These findings support the integration of AABO into multidisciplinary management protocols for women with PAS disorders. Future randomized prospective studies should be performed to improve patient selection criteria, standardize the protocols, and further evaluate the long-term maternal and neonatal safety/outcomes of the procedure.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The primary cause of cervical cancer is high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), and screening using physician-collected samples is complicated by stigma, inconvenience, and access. There are non-invasive alternatives to the physician-collected samples, including self-sampling methods such as first-void urine and vaginal swabs. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated and compared the diagnostic accuracy of vaginal and urine self-sample methods for detecting high-risk HPV. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies published between January 2015 and October 2025. Bivariate random-effects models and HSROC models were used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity results compared with clinician-collected samples for CIN2+. Meta-regression assessed sources of heterogeneity. Twenty-two studies involving over 9000 participants were included. Vaginal self-sampling showed a pooled sensitivity of 91.3% and a specificity of 86.9%, while urine self-sampling showed 86.9% sensitivity and 79.5% specificity. Vaginal swabs demonstrated higher sensitivity in head-to-head comparisons. DNA-based PCR assays showed higher sensitivity than mRNA-based tests, and room-temperature storage decreased urine sample sensitivity. Both methods are effective for high-risk HPV detection. Vaginal self-sampling showed superior performance, while urine self-sampling remains a valuable non-invasive option for under-screened populations.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in Kazakhstan despite ongoing prevention efforts. Although incidence has declined in many high-income countries due to effective screening and human papillomavirus vaccination programs, Kazakhstan continues to report relatively high incidence and still considerable mortality rates compared with many developed regions. This narrative review summarizes the current epidemiological trends, screening practices, and prevention strategies for cervical cancer in Kazakhstan. National screening programs based on cytology have been implemented since 2008 and have improved early detection; however, screening coverage remains below the World Health Organization target of 70%, with participation particularly low in rural areas due to limited awareness, access barriers, and logistical challenges. The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection among women in Kazakhstan is relatively high, with high-risk types contributing significantly to disease burden. The reintroduction of the national HPV vaccination program targeting adolescents represents an important step toward long-term cervical cancer prevention. In addition, emerging screening approaches such as HPV self-sampling offer promising opportunities to increase screening uptake, especially among under-screened populations. Integrating vaccination programs with innovative and accessible screening strategies, alongside improved awareness, follow-up systems, and health system support, could significantly enhance cervical cancer prevention efforts. Strengthening these interventions will be essential for Kazakhstan to reduce cervical cancer burden and move toward achieving the World Health Organization goal of cervical cancer elimination.