Cervical cancer screening after 50: near extinction?
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and predictors of Pap smear screening among women aged 50 years and older.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted at two large urban health centres in Selangor. A total of 515 women aged 50 and older were recruited.


RESULTS
The mean age of the respondents was 58.83±7.05, with a range of 50- 83 years. The prevalence of Pap smear screening was 39.22% (n=202). From the multivariate analysis, Pap smear screening was significantly associated with health care provider advice (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=18.75; 95% CI=8.30, 42.37); tertiary (AOR=11.26; 95% CI=1.50, 84.68) and secondary education level (AOR=9.47; 95% CI=1.43, 62.84); use of contraception (AOR=2.90; 95% CI=1.48, 5.69); heart disease (AOR=0.22; 95% CI=0.05, 0.97); and worry about Pap smear results (AOR=0.20; 95% CI=0.09, 0.42).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of Pap smear screening in the older women is unsatisfactory. Health care provider advice, education level, use of contraception, heart disease and worry about Pap smear results were predictors of undergoing Pap smear screening in this study population.
Population Health & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 47000 Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: niknairan@yahoo.com.
Nik N
NN
Abdullah
Obstetrics & Gynaecology Discipline, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Selangor, Malaysia.
Suzanna
S
Daud
Population Health & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 47000 Selangor, Malaysia.
Waqar
W
Al-Kubaisy
Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM),78000 Malacca, Malaysia.
Izni S
IS
Saari
Selangor State Health Department, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Siti R
SR
Saad
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Factors; Older women; Pap smear; Screening