Lay summary
There are major ethnic inequalities in cervical cancer screening, incidence, and mortality in New Zealand. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. Screening for high-risk HPV genotypes (with appropriate subsequent treatment) could prevent nearly all cervical cancers. We hypothesize that offering the opportunity for self-sampling to obtain a cervical specimen for HPV testing will increase participation rates in the National Cervical Screening Programme and will thus decrease incidence of, and mortality from, cervical cancer. We will conduct a community trial in Maori, Pacific and Asian women, comparing invitation for cytology with invitation for self-sampling. We will determine whether un- and under-screened women find self-sampling acceptable and establish which factors affect their perceptions. The study aims to contribute to decreasing inequalities in New Zealand by exploring the use of a new cervical screening method that women who do not currently undergo screening may find acceptable.