[Prophylactics of cervical cancer in Polish female population aged 45-54].
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of cervical cancer prophylactics by identification of the time of last cervical cytological examination as well as by recognition of frequency of repeated cervical cytological examinations and reimbursement for the examination costs in representative sample of Polish women aged 45-54.


METHODS
The study was conducted with the use of a standardized questionnaire in April 2004 in Polish nation-wide representative sample of 1083 women selected by random-route method. The study was adjusted for the following controllable variables: age, place of residence and its number of inhabitants, province.


RESULTS
For the last 3 years cytological examination of cervical smear has been performed in 58% of women regardless of their age and education including 32% for the last year. Between 3 and 10 years ago the examination had been performed in 16% of women. As many as 14% of respondents admitted that they had never had this examination. 5% declared having the examination more than 10 years ago, 4% could not remember having this examination at all and the remaining women either were not aware of this examination or did not answer this question. Cervical cytological examinations repeated regularly every 12-18 months were declared by 30% of women. Regular cervical cytological examinations were performed significantly more often among women using hormonal replacement therapy (54%) and those living in big cities (44%). These examinations were free of charge for 823 of women.


CONCLUSIONS
Considerable proportion (42%) of women aged 45-54 years have not had cervical cytology performed for the last 3 years. More than a half of them (23%) do not care about their health and are not aware how important this examination is. As few as 30% of women have regular cytologic examinations. These are more often women interested in hormonal replacement therapy and big city dwellers.
Klinika Połoznictwa i Ginekologii Centrum Medycznego Kształcenia Podyplomowego, Warszawa.
Małgorzata
M
Bińkowska
Romuald
R
Debski
D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health