| Definitions | Methodology | Data sources | Data selection criteria | Contact |
Number of women in the target population – unique women within the age range defined for the state-organized cervical cancer screening programme (25–69 years), according to Cabinet Regulation No. 555 of 28 August 2018, “Procedures for the Organization and Payment of Health Care Services” . The target population is calculated based on the average number of women in Latvia in the relevant year and divided by the screening interval – 3 years (until July 1, 2025 – 3 years).
Unique number of invited women - unique women who were sent an invitation letter to participate in the cervical cancer screening programme, as recorded in the National Health Service (NHS) information system.
Invitation coverage – the proportion of invited women within the annual target population.
This indicator is calculated as the ratio of invited women to the annual target population and shows what share of the target population received screening invitations within the defined screening period. It provides information on programme organizational effectiveness (target: 95% acceptable, >95% desirable).
Invitation coverage= (number of unique women invited for screening in the given year / ⅓ of the average number of women aged 25-69 in the given year) *100
Unique number of women who underwent screening examinations - unique women who received the primary screening test within the state-organized cervical cancer screening programme (cytology or high-risk HPV testing), in accordance with regulations and coded according to NHS requirements for cervical cancer screening.
Examination coverage - the proportion of screened women within the target population.
This indicator is calculated as the ratio of women who underwent screening to the target population and shows what share of the target population received a screening test (cytology or primary high-risk HPV test) during the specified period. It provides information on programme organizational effectiveness (target: 70% acceptable, >85% desirable).
Examination coverage = (number of unique women who underwent primary screening in the given year / ⅓ number of unique women who underwent primary screening in the given year) *100
Participation (response rate) – the proportion of invited women who actually underwent screening.
This indicator is calculated as the ratio of women who underwent screening to the number of women invited in a given year. It provides information on programme effectiveness (target: 70% acceptable, >85% desirable).
Participation (response rate) = (number of unique women who underwent primary screening in the given year / number of invited women in the given year) *100
Distribution of primary screening results – the number of unique women according to the results of their primary screening test. The distribution is based on the screening method specified in Cabinet Regulation No. 555 of 28 August 2018, “Procedures for the Organization and Payment of Health Care Services.
Screening methods and coding of results by period:
2009-2020
Primary screening method: conventional cytology (the most recent result submitted within the year is used)
2021
Primary screening method:
Result codes (both methods):
From 1 July 2022
Cytology result codes:
HPV test results:
Age groups – unique women are grouped into five-year age bands from 25 to 69.
The methodology was developed and adapted by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC), Department of Research and Health Statistics, in cooperation with the National Health Service. It is based on indicators compiled by the European Commission and described in the European guidelines for quality assurance in cervical cancer screening (2nd edition), 2008. Supplements, 2015.
It reflects the capabilities of Latvian data systems and international guidelines and provides a systematic, methodologically sound approach to describing cervical cancer screening indicators and programme monitoring. By introducing a screening registry, as well as ensuring additional data availability and quality control, the methodology will be supplemented and adapted to the current situation.
Screened women are selected from NHS according to the conditions of the state-organized cervical cancer screening programme.
Primary diagnosis code: – Special screening examinations for cervical cancer screening
Procedure codes:
Anita Mauriňa
Head of the Registry Supervision Unit
Phone: +371 67387665
Renâte Putniňa
Public Health Analyst
Phone: +371 27893727
Annika Smilga-Veide
Public Health Analyst
Phone: +371 67475147