['The study aimed to assess acceptability and preference for self-collected human papillomavirus tests (self-HPV) compared with traditional physician-sampled Pap tests (physician sampling) in a low-resource country.', 'Women were recruited through a cervical cancer screening campaign conducted in Cameroon. Written and oral instructions were given to carry out an unsupervised self-HPV, followed by a physician-collected cervical sample for HPV testing and cytology. Subsequently the women were asked to answer a questionnaire.', 'A total of 243 women were prospectively enrolled in this study. Median age of participants was 39 years (range = 25-65 years). Acceptability score was higher for self-HPV (p < .001) compared with physician sampling. Preference was lower for self-HPV than physician sampling (29% vs 62%; p < .001). Most participants thought that physician sampling was more reliable than self-HPV (59% vs 1%; p < .001). Women who preferred physician sampling were significantly more likely to have low knowledge about cervical cancer and a low educational level.'] Are human papillomavirus self-sampling in Cameroon : women 's uncertainties over the reliability of the method barriers to acceptance?