Cervical cancer risk perception and Pap-smear screening

Abstract

Objective This study assesses whether cervical cancer screening is influenced by self-perceived risk of developing the disease.

Design Analyses are based on 3221 women respondents, aged 18 years and older, to the 1996 Utah Health Status Survey, a cross-sectional random

telephone survey. Religion and church activity are used as surrogate markers for cervical cancer risk.

Setting Interviews were carried out across 12 local health districts in Utah.

Methods Religion was classified as member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (LDS), non-LDS, and no religious preference. Church activity was divided into attends church weekly and attends church less than weekly. Data were assessed using cross-tabulations and multiple logistic regression.

Results The relation between religious preference, church activity, and Pap smear screening was dependent on marital status. Among married women, religious preference and church activity was not significantly related to Pap smear screening. On the other hand, for unmarried women the odds of having a Pap smear in the last two years, compared with religiously active LDS, was 2.39 (95 per cent confidence interval: 1.30- 4.09) for less religiously active LDS, 2.30 (1.10-4.82) for religiously active non-LDS, 1.65 (0.91-2.99) for less religiously active non-LDS, and 5.35 (2.50-11.43) for women with no religious preference. For unmarried religiously active LDS, 39.2 per cent had a Pap smear in the last two years. In contrast, for unmarried women with no religious preference, 78.7 per cent had a Pap smear within the last two years.

Conclusion These findings suggest that self-perceived risk for cervical cancer influences Pap smear screening behaviour. Cervical cancer screening programmes in certain areas, such as Utah, may benefit by considering religious preference and church activity when developing and targeting screening programmes.