Cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected women in a health department setting

HIV-infected women are at increased risk of developing invasive cervical cancer and present for care at a later stage of disease. Because of this susceptibility, the US Preventive Services Task Force and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that HIV-infected women receive two Pap smears during their first year after diagnosis, then annually thereafter. The aim of this study was to determine adherence to these screening guidelines and associations between demographic factors and receipt of Pap smears at a local health department in Florida. Demographic and Pap smear data were extracted from randomly selected medical records of 200 HIV-infected women receiving care between January 2000 and May 2006. Descriptive statistics and chi(2) associations were determined. Overall, 83% of women received at least one Pap smear in their first year after enrollment; 24.5% received the recommended two Pap smears. The women were predominantly minorities (57.4% African Americans; 22.8% Hispanics) and economically disadvantaged (mean income $8,180). First year Pap smear rate was significantly associated with type of insurance (p = 0.0185) and Pap smear facility (p < 0.0001), with a trend toward association with HIV risk behavior (p = 0.0593). First-year Pap smear rate was not associated with age, income, ethnicity, or incarceration history. Although this health department provided similar cervical cancer screening levels to those reported elsewhere, rates fall short of evidence-based guidelines. Future research must address low second Pap smear rates in the context of patient and provider barriers to improve early detection and prevention of cervical cancer in HIV-infected women.