Related Experiment Videos
[Factors affecting compliance with pap smear screening]
María Teresa Urrutia1, Macarena Gajardo2
1Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile, maria.urrutia@unab.cl.
Revista Medica De Chile
|April 11, 2017
Summary
Pap smear coverage in Chile has declined, prompting an analysis of screening adherence. Factors like incorrect addresses and private clinic use impact participation in cervical cancer screening programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Chile has experienced a decline in Pap smear coverage, dropping from 67% to 59% in recent years.
- Understanding the reasons behind this decrease is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between the characteristics of the target population for cervical cancer screening within Chile's public healthcare system and overall Pap smear coverage.
- To identify demographic and systemic factors influencing adherence to cervical cancer screening guidelines.
Main Methods:
- The study included women aged 25-64 within a public healthcare system in a low-income community in Metropolitan Santiago.
- Data were collected from a recruitment database (n=6,058) and an interviewed women database (n=1,042).
Main Results:
- Recruitment faced challenges, with 52% of cases encountering issues, primarily due to incorrect addresses.
- Among contacted women, 4.1% had undergone hysterectomy or had cervical cancer, and 1.4% were deceased.
- Of interviewed women, 76.8% adhered to ministerial guidelines for cervical cancer screening, with 20.5% of those utilizing private healthcare services.
Conclusions:
- Pap smear coverage is influenced by various factors, including the exclusion of eligible women from the target population.
- Screening conducted in private clinics, rather than the public system, emerged as a significant factor affecting overall coverage rates.