The extent of cervical screening in New Zealand women

To estimate the extent of cervical screening coverage of New Zealand women, a national survey of 1000 randomly selected women with a supplement of 200 Maori women was carried out by the National Research Bureau in August 1990 for the Department of Health. The results indicate a high level of screening in women aged 20-64 and improvements in coverage over the last three years, probably in response to the Cartwright inquiry. Overall, 77% of women reported having had a smear test within the previous three years and after adjustment for hysterectomy, this proportion increased to 82%. Screening coverage, however, was unevenly spread according to ethnic group, age and household income. Only 15% of European women reported no smear test in the last three years compared with 27% of Maori and Pacific Island women. The likelihood of having had a smear test in the last three years increased with increasing income. The survey confirms a high level of very frequent screening throughout New Zealand (2.4 smear tests per woman in the previous three years); the most frequent screening occurred in women 20-24 years of age (2.9 smears). Because an organised national screening programme has the potential to maintain and extend screening coverage to all age and ethnic groups, as well as reduce the number of unnecessary smears, it is likely to be more cost effective than the current screening practice.