A feasibility study of organised cervical screening in southern New Zealand.
The 1985 electoral roll was used as a register to invite 1013 women to participate in a screening program. Appointment times and a choice of venues for having a smear were not provided. Overall, 26 per cent of the women sent invitations registered with the program. After adjustment for the prevalence of hysterectomy, the proportion who registered with the program was about 32 per cent. The low level of registration and difficulties experienced in tracing registrants and nonregistrants over time using the electoral roll resulted in the cessation of the program after 3 years. An assessment of the original invitation was made using a small case-control study, and associations between the screening history stated at interview and screening over the duration of the program were examined in nonregistrants.
Cox
B
B
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Skegg
D C
DC
Paul
C
C
Smeijers
J
J
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009520:New Zealand; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears