Differences in preventive screening rates in Wisconsin farm and non-farm resident women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the proportion of rural women who met screening recommendations for Pap smears, mammograms, blood cholesterol, and blood pressure measurements.


METHODS
Women aged 25-75 were recruited for a population-based study of chronic diseases in rural residents. In addition to a self-administered health questionnaire and a brief examination, the most recent Pap smear, mammogram, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol measurements were documented from electronic medical records.


RESULTS
The study population was comprised of 675 farm and 825 non-farm residents. Fifty-five women (3.7%) had no documentation in their medical records of having ever had a Pap smear, and 19.3% (95% CL 16.9, 21.7) of women aged 40 and older had no documentation of a mammogram. Ninety-two percent of the women (95% CL = 90.2, 93.7) had a blood pressure measurement in the previous 2 years and 74.9% (95% CL = 72.2, 77.6) had a blood cholesterol measurement in the previous 5 years. Age was inversely related to Pap smears and positively correlated with mammograms, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol measurements. Farm residents were significantly less likely to have Pap smears or blood pressure measurements at recommended time intervals.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase the proportion of rural women in compliance with preventive screening recommendations, public health education efforts should target farm residents and younger women.
McCarty
Catherine A
CA
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 North Oak Avenue (ML1) Marshfield, WI 54449, USA. mccarty.catherine@mcrf.mfldclin.edu
Chyou
Po-Huang
PH
Greenlee
Robert
R
McCarty
Daniel J
DJ
Gunderson
Paul
P
Reding
Douglas
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D002784:Cholesterol