iarjhcpIARJHCPIARJHCP2789-604810.47310/iarjhcp.2025.v05i01.001Awareness and Perception of Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study in KangraBackground: Cervical cancer is a preventable yet persistent threat to women's health in India, ranking as the second most common cancer among women nationwide. Despite the proven efficacy of early screening methods like Pap smears and preventive tools such as HPV vaccination, awareness and uptake remain critically low, especially in semi-urban and rural areas like Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Sociocultural taboos, limited health education, and misconceptions surrounding cervical cancer and its risk factors hinder early detection and timely intervention. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2024 across urban and rural areas of Kangra district. A total of 400 adults aged 18 years and above participated through a mixed sampling strategy. Data were collected using a pre-tested bilingual questionnaire that assessed demographic characteristics, cervical cancer knowledge, screening awareness, HPV-related understanding, and perception toward preventive care. Online responses were gathered. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v 26.0 to generate descriptive summaries. Results: Among the participants, 77.8% were female, and 56.5% resided in rural areas. While 78.0% correctly identified cervical cancer as a malignancy of the cervix and 75.3% recognized HPV as the leading cause, notable misconceptions remained: only 66.8% knew HPV vaccination is not gender-specific, and just 67.5% supported screening for unmarried women. Overall, 38.8% demonstrated very good knowledge, 40.3% good, 15.3% fair, and 5.8% poor. Encouragingly, 79.8% expressed willingness to attend screening camps, suggesting openness to preventive action if access and stigma are addressed. Conclusion: Although baseline awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention in Kangra is relatively high, significant informational and cultural gaps persist, particularly regarding HPV transmission, vaccine eligibility, and attitudes toward screening. To improve outcomes, interventions must go beyond basic education and focus on debunking myths, normalizing gynecological care, and integrating services within existing community health frameworks. Inclusive, gender-sensitive strategies and rural outreach are key to empowering individuals and reducing the cervical cancer burden.