Marnin Business: Anthropological Interpretations of Cervical Screening among Australian Aboriginal Women

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Toussaint ◽  
Donna Mak ◽  
Judith Straton
Keyword(s):  
Pap Smear ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Medical Practitioner ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Australian Aboriginal ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Cross Cultural Education

Cervical cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among Australian Aboriginal women despite the existence of effective prevention in the form of the Papanicolaou (Pap) Smear. An anthropological assessment of a successful cervical screening program in remote northern Australia reveals that a large proportion of women participated in the program because of the gender, skills, dedication and history of a female medical practitioner, and work practices which incorporated recognition of indigenous beliefs and practices. Without the direct involvement of the practitioner, and with health services which undermined the influence of local cultural behaviours, the program declined. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal responses to the program are described, and it is suggested that understandings about culture and gender are crucial to the design and application of future Pap Smear programs. Committed health care practitioners, cross-cultural education, and improved socioeconomic conditions for indigenous populations, are also identified as key elements for better service delivery in regard to cervical screening and other health-related issues in Aboriginal Australia.

scholarly journals Present potential of exfoliative cytology in detection of cervix cancer

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Sushila Jain ◽  
Anuj Paudel ◽  
S K Jain
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Pap Smears ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Epithelial Lesions

  Introduction: Conventional Pap smear is the mainstay for cervical cancer screening in developing countries and women should be motivated for cervical screening program to detect early dysplastic cells. This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of abnormalities in Pap smears, particularly pattern of epithelial cell abnormality in women attending Lumbini Medical College in western Nepal.   Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out and 1066 Pap smears were studied to look for epithelial cell abnormality according to revised Bethesda system 2001.   Results: Out of 1066 patients who underwent Pap smear examination, 71 (6.6%) revealed epithelial cell abnormality; most were low grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (LSIL) occupying 4.59% at the age between 23 to 29 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was found in 0.37 % of patients at the age 40 years and above. In our scenario, per vaginal discharge was the major finding of the patients who showed premalignant features.   Conclusions: Women above 40 years are at a risk of premalignant as well as malignant lesions and these women should undergo screening for abnormal cells at the age of 18 or when sexual activity starts and as per recommendations to look for early dysplastic cells. Cervical screening program should be motivated by the national policy makers and also by health professionals.

scholarly journals Knowledge and perspectives of the new National Cervical Screening Program: a qualitative interview study of North Queensland women—‘I could be that one percent’

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e034483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Nagendiram ◽  
Rachel Bidgood ◽  
Jennifer Banks ◽  
Clare Heal
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Screening Participation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
And Gender

ObjectivesTo investigate women’s understanding and attitudes towards the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) and to explore methods to improve screening participation.DesignSemi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted through convenience and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis occurred using the interpretivist framework.SettingA private general practice in North Queensland.ParticipantsWomen between the ages of 18 and 74 who attended the general practice were eligible to participate. Fourteen women between 20 and 58 years old were interviewed.ResultsParticipants were concerned that the new NCSP would miss cancer due to longer screening intervals and reliance on primary human papilloma virus (HPV) testing. They believed that young women are at increased risk of cervical cancer, due to perceived HPV vaccine ineffectiveness and parent objection to vaccination. Most participants were not agreeable to self-sampling and preferred their doctor to perform screening. Personal and practitioner beliefs influenced a woman’s screening participation. Personal factors include being healthy for themselves and their family, previous abnormal smears and family history of cancer. Emphasis was placed on feeling ‘comfortable’ with their practitioner which included patient rapport and gender preference. Proposed methods to improve cervical screening included education programmes, advertising campaigns, general practitioner interventions and improving accessibility.ConclusionsIt is apparent that women are hesitant about the new NCSP. However, when provided with additional information they were more amenable to the changes. This highlights the need to improve awareness of cervical screening and the new NCSP.

“A Pap smear saved my life”: Personal experiences of cervical abnormalities shape attitudes to cervical screening renewal

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena M Obermair ◽  
Kirsten J McCaffery ◽  
Rachael H Dodd
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Personal History ◽  
Pap Smears ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Women's Lives ◽  
History Of ◽  
Screening Intervals

Objective In 2017, the Australian National Cervical Screening Program changed from two-yearly Pap smears between ages 18 and 69, to five-yearly human papillomavirus screening between ages 25 and 74 (the “Renewal”). This study investigated attitudes towards the changes, among individuals previously affected by cervical abnormalities/cervical cancer, personally or through a friend/relative. Methods We conducted a thematic analysis of comments expressing personal history or a family/friend history of cervical abnormalities/cervical cancer as a reason for opposing changes to the cervical screening program. The comments were taken from a 20% random sample of 19,633 comments posted on the “Change.org” petition “Stop May 1st Changes to Pap Smears – Save Women's Lives” in February–March 2017. Results There were 831 (20.8%) commenters who reported that they were concerned about a change in screening due to: feelings of increased personal vulnerability to cervical cancer due to their own personal history of cervical abnormalities; comparison of extended screening intervals and later age of first screening to their own experiences; and a perception of increased personal risk due to family history. Conclusion Women previously affected by cervical abnormalities or cervical cancer, personally or through a friend/relative, expressed concern about changes to cervical screening due to perceived increased risk and feeling vulnerable due to personal history.

Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cytological (Pap Smear) Abnormalities Among HIV-infected Women at the HIV Treatment Center of Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, Nigeria.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olugbenga Akindele Silas ◽  
Philip O. Akpa ◽  
Tolulope O. Afolaranmi ◽  
Samuel Robsam Ohayi ◽  
Jonah Musa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Treatment Center ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Pap Smear Screening ◽  
Women With Hiv

Abstract Introduction: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women living with HIV with the highest burden in sub-Sahara African countries with the highest prevalence of HIV. Early detection of precursor cervical lesions through routine Pap smear screening is central to cervical cancer prevention. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and predictors of abnormal Pap smear findings among women with HIV in our cervical cancer screening program. Methodology: We carried out a cross sectional study of adult women with HIV who presented for Pap smear test for the first time at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, North Central Nigeria between November2018 and January 2020. Prevalence of abnormal cervical finding was reported in percentage and also expressed per 100 population of women. The effects of the characteristics of the women of the abnormal pap smear finding was determined using the logistic regression model where 95% confidence interval and adjusted odds were used as point and interval estimates respectively while a probability value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 949 women with HIV participated in the cervical screening program with mean age 43.3 ± 8.1 years. Abnormal smear findings were observed among 183 (19.3%: 19 cases per 100 women) with ASCUS, ASC-H, LSIL, HSIL, HSIL with suspicion of invasion and AGUS accounting for 96 (10.1%), 50(5.3%), 27 (2.9%), 6 (0.6%), 2 (0.2%) and 2(0.2%) respectively. Of the abnormal smear findings, 125 (68.3%) were adjudged to have mild cytological feature while the complementing proportion adjudged to have severe cytological features. Unadjusted odds of abnormal Pap smear result was associated with increasing age, OR 1.15(95% CI 1.127, 1.186; p = 0.001); parity, OR1.08 (95% CI 1.019, 1.141; p = 0.009). In the adjusted model, increasing age remained the only factor predicting abnormal Pap smear finding. Conclusion: Prevalence of abnormal Pap smear results remains high in HIV- infected women and is associated with increasing age. Advocacy to institutionalize screening at earlier age is therefore key to improving dismal outcomes.

scholarly journals Uptake of cancer screening among adults with disabilities in Flanders (Belgium)

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-51
Author(s):  
Eliane Kellen ◽  
Charlotte Nuyens ◽  
Catherine Molleman ◽  
Sarah Hoeck
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Screening ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Disabled Persons ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Disabled Women

Objective To explore the association between disability and participation in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening in Flanders (Belgium). Methods Data from the Centre for Cancer Detection were linked to data of the Flemish Agency for disabled persons by the Crossroads Bank for Social Security, using National Social Security Numbers. Results The study population consisted of 92,334 invited individuals registered as disabled in 2013–2015. For breast cancer screening (including both opportunistic screening and participation in the screening program), 51.7% of disabled women had undergone mammography in the last two years, compared with the Flemish uptake of 61.8%. In cervical screening, 45% of the women with a disability had undergone a PAP smear in the last three years (overall Flemish uptake was 60.7%). For colorectal cancer screening, 40.7% of individuals with a disability had undergone a fecal immunochemical test in the last two years (overall Flemish uptake was 51.5%). Participation in breast and colorectal cancer screening among persons with a disability was 10% points less than the Flemish average during the same period. In the cervical cancer screening program, the difference between the participation of disabled women and the Flemish average was 10% points. Persons with any type of disability had a lower uptake of cancer screening than the Flemish average, except for individuals with a hearing impairment. Conclusions Participation disparities in the Flemish cancer screening programs between persons with and without disabilities require specific efforts to increase cancer screening among people with a disability.

scholarly journals Central Australian Aboriginal women’s pregnancy, labour and birth outcomes following maternal smokeless tobacco (pituri) use, cigarette use or no-tobacco use: a prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Ratsch ◽  
Fiona Bogossian ◽  
Kathryn Steadman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Smokeless Tobacco ◽  
Tobacco Plant ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Maternal Outcomes ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Australian Aboriginal ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
Smokeless Tobacco Use

Abstract Background Outcomes related to maternal smoked tobacco (cigarette) use have been substantially examined over the past 50 years with resultant public health education targeted towards the reduction of use during pregnancy. However, worldwide the effects of maternal smokeless tobacco use have been less well explored and in Australia, there has been no examination of maternal outcomes in relation to the use of Australian Nicotiana spp. (tobacco plant) as a smokeless tobacco, colloquially known as pituri. The aim of this study is to describe the maternal outcomes of a group of central Australian Aboriginal women in relation to their self-reported tobacco use. Methods Eligible participants were > 18 years of age, with a singleton pregnancy, > 28 weeks gestation, and who planned to birth at the Alice Springs Hospital (the major regional hospital for central Australia, in the Northern Territory, Australia). The sample consisted of 73 conveniently recruited women categorized by tobacco-use status as no-tobacco users (n = 31), pituri chewers (n = 19), and smokers (n = 23). Results There were differences in the groups in relation to teenage pregnancies; 35% of no-tobacco users, compared with 5% of pituri users, and 13% of smokers were <  20 years of age. The chewers had a higher rate (48%) of combined pre-existing and pregnancy-related elevated glucose concentrations compared with smokers (22%) and no-tobacco users (16%).The pituri chewers had the lowest rate (14%) of clinically significant post-partum hemorrhage (> 1000 ml) compared with 22% of smokers and 36% of the no-tobacco users. Conclusions This is the first research to examine pituri use in pregnancy and the findings indicate possible associations with a range of adverse maternal outcomes. The use of smokeless tobacco needs to be considered in maternal healthcare assessment to inform antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care planning. Implications for public health Female smokeless tobacco use is a global phenomenon and is particularly prevalent in low and middle income countries and in Indigenous populations. The findings contribute to the developing knowledge around maternal smokeless tobacco use and maternal outcomes. Maternal screening for a broader range of tobacco and nicotine products is required. Note to readers In this research, the central Australian Aboriginal women chose the term ‘Aboriginal’ to refer to themselves, and ‘Indigenous’ to refer to the broader First Peoples. That choice has been maintained in the reporting of the research findings.

scholarly journals Opportunistic cervical cancer screening by papanicolaou stain Pap smear among women: a pilot study at urban health training centre of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 2714
Author(s):  
Ruchi Sinha ◽  
Pragya Kumar ◽  
Geetika Singh ◽  
Rubina Saha
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Training Centre ◽  
Tertiary Center ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Background: Cancer of the uterine cervix is the second most common cancer among women world-wide and accounts for 17% of all cancer deaths among females aged 30-69 years in India. Locally advanced cervical cancer is rampant in Bihar because of the high prevalence of associated risk factors. However, there is lack of organized screening programmes and treatment facilities for these patients. Thus, the study aimed at screening women for cervical cancer opportunistically during their visit to the health centres and to assess the various socio-demographic and other risk factors associated with positive screening test results.Methods: Using purposive sampling technique, all women aged 18-59 years who visited the centre for any purpose were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire. All eligible women were screened using the conventional Pap Smear and evaluation was done using the 2014 Bethesda system. This study is still underway and 71 women have been screened so far. An interim analysis was done.Results: Only 4.23% of the women ever had Pap smear testing in their life earlier. Mean age was 35.3±9.12 years and majority of the women were married and multi-parous. Vaginal discharge (55.74%) was the most common perceived gynecological morbidity. Most (36.62%) smears were reported as inflammatory cervical smears while epithelial cell abnormalities were seen in 4 (5.63%) cases.Conclusions: This study reiterates the need to start organized cervical screening program not only at tertiary center but also at primary health centers which will definitely help to reduce the burden to some extent

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