title: Contested surveillance: risk, safety, and cervical screening in Australia.
abstract: The expectation of participation in cervical screening programs has become a ubiquitous feature of women's lives; but despite the obvious importance of trying to prevent cervical cancer, both the expression and fulfilment of that expectation are far from straightforward. This is because the actors involved are not always consistent in their interpretation of the risks involved and safety sought. The history of cervical screening in Australia illustrates how the implementation of medical surveillance can be shaped by such interpretations. We argue in particular that conflict in Australia over screening frequency requires an explanation of this kind, and more broadly that we have entered an era of preventive medicine that can be described as one of 'contested surveillance'.
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corones
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D016387:Women's Health / Q000266:history*