An Implementation for Integration of Cervical Smear Screening with Family Planning Services in the District of Diyarbakir Province of Turkey 2001

Abstract

Context: Cervical smear screening may have an important influence on early detection and prevention of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality and should be widely introduced particularly into primary health care settings. Objective: We tried to integrate cervical cancer screening programme with a family planning service in a family planning clinic. Design: Volunteer women, who can speak the local language, were assigned to educate residential women on cervical cancer and to refer them to a family planning clinic. All nurses working in the family planning clinic were trained on how to perform cervical smear. Setting: The study was conducted in Huzurevleri district of Diyarbakir-Turkey. Participants: The Pap test results of 503 women who gave informed consent and attended the family planning clinic for cervical smear test were the participants of the study. Women's practices and previous Pap test history were also discussed. Main Outcome Measure: To examine the effect of factors influencing Pap test history frequency tabulates, chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Within one year, 503 Pap test were investigated. Although 361 women (71.8%) attended clinic previously, only 37 women (7.4%) had a Pap test. Illiteracy and history of induced abortion were the factors affecting Pap test usage. Adjusted odds ratio for illiterate women, who had not had a Pap test before, was 2.80 (95% CI: 1.3-6.3) and for women who had never induced abortion was 3.88 (95% CI: 1.3-12.0). Conclusion: Integration of cervical cancer screening with family planning services may avoid missed opportunities. Especially illiterate women should be reached because of their risks.