Contraception and screening for cervical and breast cancer in neuromuscular disease: a retrospective study of 50 patients monitored at a clinical reference centre.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse contraceptive methods and the extent of screening for breast and cervical cancer in women with neuromuscular disease, compare these results with data and guidelines for the general population and determine the environmental and attitudinal barriers encountered.


METHODS
A retrospective, descriptive study in a population of female neuromuscular disease patients (aged 20 to 74) monitored at a clinical reference centre.


RESULTS
Complete datasets were available for 49 patients. Seventy percent used contraception (hormonal contraception in most cases). Sixty-eight percent had undergone screening for cervical cancer at some time in the previous 3 years and 100% of the patients over 50 had undergone a mammography. Architectural accessibility and practical problems were the most common barriers to care and were more frequently encountered by wheelchair-bound, ventilated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the patients had good access to contraceptive care and cervical and breast cancer screening. However, specific measures may be useful for the most severely disabled patients.
Goutard
S
S
Département de médecine générale, faculté de médecine, université d'Angers, rue Haute-de-Reculée, 49000 Angers, France.
Baron
C
C
Bouton
C
C
Penisson-Besnier
I
I
Fossé
G
G
Aube-Nathier
A-C
AC
Havet-Thomassin
V
V
Dubas
F
F
Richard
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001107:Architectural Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006176:Gynecology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult