Reporting rates for cervical screening in the Szczecin Region during the period 2007-2010

In Poland, the incidence of cervical cancer remains on the level of the mean value observed in the regions of Eastern and Central Europe; however, it is higher than in Western Europe. The effects of performance of prophylactic programmes would be more effective if an improvement was observed in the reporting by women for examinations, and the quality and accessibility of these tests was observed, in accordance with international standards. The objective of the study was analysis of the reporting rates for cervical screening in the Szczecin Region during the period 2007-2010. Statistical data were analyzed obtained from: the Central (Poznań) and Regional (Szczecin, Olsztyn) Coordination Centre for the Programme of Prophylaxis and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer of the Medical Prophylaxis Computer Information System (SIMP), and Oncology Centre in Warsaw. All collected data were subjected to the statistical analyses. The West Pomeranian Voivodeship, with reporting rates for cervical test of about 30% (women aged 25-59) occupies the second or third position in Poland, following the Varmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Personal invitations and screening examinations, as well as an increase in the number of services providers at the basic level in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, have not been sufficiently effective in ways of increasing reporting rates for cervical tests. Apart from personal invitations, the patients acquired knowledge concerning screening from many sources, primarily from medical specialists, nurses and the media. The obtaining of further reduction in mortality and morbidity in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship requires the development of new methods which would result in an increase in the number of women participating in cervical screening, to cover with examinations a minimum of 70-75% of the population.