Coverage and factors associated with cervical cancer screening: results from the AFRODITA study: a population-based survey in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the coverage and monitor the factors associated with opportunistic cervical cytological screening in Spain.


METHODS
Population-based survey of selected women through the Access Panel technique representative of the general population. A total of 6,852 women (60%) replied to the questionnaire; 981 (14.3%) were excluded from the analysis because they did not meet the screening criteria. Data were adjusted for regions, age group, socioeconomic level (SEL), and municipality size. Moreover, information was collected on preventive gynecological revisions received. Categorical variables were evaluated through the chi2 test of heterogeneity or through a liner test for trend. Multivariate prevalence odds ratios were used to identify statistically significant determinants of screening using logistic regression modeling.


RESULTS
The percentage of women 18 to 65 years old with a Pap smear within the last 3 years was 75.6%. Insufficient coverage was observed in women older than 55 years (66%), who live in rural areas (66%), with lower SEL (65%), and in some regions (61%-66%). The factors positively associated with screening were age 26 to 55 years, certain regions, higher SEL, larger municipality size, ever being pregnant, early age at first sexual intercourse, knowledge about cervical cancer and human papillomavirus, and, very strongly, ever use of contraceptive methods. An overuse of cytology can be assumed, as a result of opportunistic screening.


CONCLUSIONS
In Spain, the coverage of cytological screening reached 75% of the population, but with inefficiencies in some aspects. To rationalize its use, the Spanish consensus screening protocol must be followed.
Puig-Tintoré
Luis M
LM
Gynecologic Oncology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. lmpuigt@ub.edu
Castellsagué
Xavier
X
Torné
Aureli
A
de Sanjosé
Silvia
S
Cortés
Javier
J
Roura
Esther
E
Méndez
Cristina
C
Bosch
F Xavier
FX
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*