WOMEN in Glasgow remain the least likely in Scotland to take a life-saving cancer test.

For the fifth year running, the city has recorded the lowest cervical screening rates.

NHS figures show 66.3% of women eligible in Greater Glasgow took the test from April 2013 to March 2014, down from 67.4% the previous year.

This compares with a national average of 70.7%; 72% in Lanarkshire; and rates as high as 78% in other parts of the country.

However, all NHS Boards recorded lower uptake rates this year, compared to five years ago.

NHSGGC said it was continuing to target "hard to reach" areas, with women from areas of high deprivation less likely to take the test.

Cervical screening is offered routinely to women aged 20-60 every three years.

In 2012-2013, 384,296 tests were processed across Scotland, down 5.1%, compared to the previous year.

The highest uptake was in the 41-49 age group and lowest in the 20-25 age group.

NHSGGC launched a social networking campaign earlier this year to drive up rates in the 20-25 age group. Within a month rates had increased by 32% with uptake increasing by a fifth across all ages.

Figures show that the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased by 44% between 1986 and 2012.

There has been a general downward trend in the number of tests processed over the last 15 years or so with the exception of 2008-09, which saw a sharp increase in uptake.

This has been attributed to the impact of publicity surrounding the introduction of the HPV vaccination programme and the diagnosis and death of former Big Brother star Jade Goody, left.

Across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, figures reached a five-year peak of 70.1%.

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: "Regular cervical screening is the best way for women to protect themselves against cervical cancer.

A study from Cancer Research UK scientists found women who fail to have smear tests over the age 50 have a much higher chance of developing the disease compared with other women the same age who have a history of normal screening result.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk