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- Title
Promoting cervical screening among women experiencing homelessness and socio-economic disadvantage in Sydney.
- Authors
Lovell, Renee C.; Botfield, Jessica R.; Cheng, Yan; Tilley, Donna M.; Fazio, Alice; Estoesta, Jane
- Abstract
<bold>Issue Addressed: </bold>Australia's national cervical screening program has reduced rates of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. However, these benefits have not been experienced by all women. A Cervical Cancer Screening Project was implemented with lay health educators to address inequitable screening access by women experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.<bold>Methods: </bold>Resources and a training program were developed and piloted with the specialist homelessness services workforce in Sydney, NSW. Data was collected to inform their development and evaluation through interviews, focus groups, self-administered surveys and analysis of NSW Pap Test Register data.<bold>Results: </bold>Women reported low familiarity with the term 'cervical screening'. They identified a good patient-doctor relationship, and seeing a female practitioner, as screening enablers. While the majority reported having cervical screening before, NSW Pap Test Register data showed only 74% had screened previously and of those, 69% were overdue. Homelessness service workers expressed interest in talking with clients about cervical screening, and reported increased knowledge and confidence following training.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The homelessness sector is an appropriate venue to access women who are disadvantaged and under-screened. However, increasing workforce capacity to discuss screening does not lead to increased screening for women accessing these services. Further efforts are required. SO WHAT?: Access to cervical screening by women experiencing disadvantage remains a challenge. Sustained multi-faceted health promotion efforts are required to increase access. These should be informed by additional research exploring barriers and enablers for this group of women.
- Subjects
SYDNEY (N.S.W.); AUSTRALIA; HOMELESSNESS; PHYSICIAN-patient relations; PAP test; AUSTRALIANS; CANCER-related mortality; MEDICAL screening; WOMEN physicians; HEALTH education; HEALTH services accessibility; EARLY detection of cancer; SOCIOECONOMIC factors; HEALTH attitudes; AT-risk people; RESEARCH funding; CERVIX uteri tumors
- Publication
Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2020, Vol 31, Issue 3, p357
- ISSN
1036-1073
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1002/hpja.322