Barriers to cervical screening in women who have experienced sexual abuse: an exploratory study: Table 1
Open Access
- 1 October 2012
- journal article
- Published by BMJ in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Vol. 38 (4), 214-220
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jfprhc-2012-100378
Abstract
Objectives To explore self-reported cervical screening history and barriers to attendance among women who have been sexually abused and to identify measures to improve the experience of cervical screening for these women. Methods Women visiting the website of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), who had been sexually abused, were invited to complete a survey of their views and experiences of cervical screening. This included closed questions on demographic characteristics and cervical screening attendance, open questions on barriers to screening, and the opportunity to submit suggestions to improve this experience for women who have been sexually abused. Content analysis was used to code responses to the open questions. Four women also participated in a discussion group. Results Overall, 135 women completed the closed questions and 124 provided open-ended responses. 77.5% of responding women who were eligible for cervical screening in England had ever attended, 48.5% at least once in the previous 5 years, but 42.1% of women aged 25–49 within 3 years. A total of nine higher order themes were identified related to barriers to screening, one related to intention to attend screening and five related to suggestions to improve screening. Conclusions This study supports the idea that women who have experienced sexual abuse are less likely to attend for regular cervical screening, with under half screened in the last 5 years compared to the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme figure of 78.6%. Suggestions to improve the experience for abused women focused on communication, safety, trust and sharing control. Further research in this area is warranted to ensure that this at-risk population is appropriately served by cervical screening.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Looking ahead: A case for human papillomavirus testing of self‐sampled vaginal specimens as a cervical cancer screening strategyInternational Journal of Cancer, 2011
- Sexual Risk-Taking among High-Risk Urban Women with and without Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Mediating Effects of Contextual FactorsJournal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2010
- Association of Sexual Abuse With Incident High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Young African-American WomenSexually Transmitted Diseases, 2009
- Adult coping with childhood sexual abuse: A theoretical and empirical reviewAggression and Violent Behavior, 2009
- Personal Influencing Factors Associated With Pap Smear Testing and Cervical CancerPolicy, politics & nursing practice, 2008
- Reasons for non-attendance at cervical screening as reported by non-attendees in SwedenJournal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2008
- Adverse Impact of a History of Violence for Women With Breast, Cervical, Endometrial, or Ovarian CancerObstetrics & Gynecology, 2006
- The cervical cancer epidemic that screening has prevented in the UKThe Lancet, 2004
- The Gynecological Care Experience of Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Preliminary InvestigationWomen & Health, 1997
- The international epidemiology of child sexual abuseChild Abuse & Neglect, 1994