[Factors associated with cervical cancer screening in women covered by national health insurance].
BACKGROUND
The aims of our study were to examine the factors associated with cervical screening in women whose tests are supported by a national health insurance scheme, the Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale.


METHODS
A self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 10,000 adults aged 20 to 60 years old living in France and insured with the Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale. Response rate was 66.5% (N=6,518).


RESULTS
Of the 3,741 women aged 20 to 60 years old, 88.5% have had at least one cervical smear. Mean age for the first cervical smear was 29.3 years (95% CI: 29.0-29.6). Preventive practices (mammogram, cervical smear and fecal occult-blood testing) were strongly related. The predictive factors for cervical smear during the past three years included: age between 30 and 49 years, marital status (married, separated or divorced), the socioeconomic status (unskilled workers reported cervical smears less often than women from other socioeconomic status). Consulting a gynaecologist in the past twelve months increased 9-fold the probability of having a cervical smear and 2-fold when consulting a general practitioner compared to women who consulted neither a gynecologist nor a general practitioner.


CONCLUSIONS
In a population whose tests were supported by a national health scheme, the socioeconomic status was one of the determinants of Pap smear.
Chan Chee
C
C
Begassat
M
M
Kovess
V
V
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*