Cervical cytology in central Australian Aboriginal women

Cervical smears were taken from 113 Aboriginal women who attended an Aboriginal community controlled health service in Alice Springs for gynaecological, obstetric or other unrelated conditions over a 6 month period. Nine women (8%) had cervical atypia and two (1.8%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. These rates are similar to those observed among other population groups in larger Australian and overseas studies, as was the high prevalence of abnormal smears in women under 25 years of age (11% of this age group). Urban dwellers had a higher prevalence of abnormal smears (15%) compared with town camp and rural women (2%). This pilot study emphasises the importance of routine screening for central Australian Aboriginal women and identifies possible risk groups for further research.