Cervical Cancer Screening Among a Low-Income Multiethnic Population of Women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The absence of cervical cancer screening is a key factor accounting for differences in mortality and morbidity by age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Few published reports are available that document screening patterns, particularly among older, low-income, multiethnic populations of women. Such patterns need to be understood in order to shape programs that can reduce this health care inequity. The objective of this study was to identify cervical cancer screening patterns among such a population of women. A random sample of 6,000 women 18+ years of age was drawn equally from two Hospitals, two Comprehensive Health Centers, and two groups of Public Health Centers within the Los Angeles Department of Health Services (LACDHS), one of the largest public health systems in the nation. Patient medical charts and computerized cytology reports were used to determine receipt of a Pap smear 12 months before and 9 months after a clinic visit at which the patient was entered into the study. Of sampled women, 20.2% received a Pap smear during the 12 months before sampling and 17.4% during the 9 months after this visit. During this 21-month period, 68.6% of the women sampled received no Pap smear and 6.2% received a repeat screening. An overwhelming majority of women fail to meet cervical cancer screening guidelines. Significant barriers deter adequate use of these services within public facilities. Comprehensive interventions designed to increase use among women receiving care in such settings are critical.