Sociodemographic factors of Pap smear screening in Taiwan

Substantial evidence exists that regular screening is effective in preventing cervical cancer. However, the existing services are underused by many women in Taiwan. To examine the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on the underuse of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening, from September to December 1993 we conducted a questionnaire interview on a sample of 4,400 women aged 20 years and older in Taipei city using multistage sampling with probability proportional to size. Our results indicate that 40% of the women sampled have never had a Pap smear and 86% have not had one in the past year. Age is the strongest factor affecting Pap smear use, particularly for women below age 30 and over the age of 65. In addition, women with lower levels of education, women who are not employed, never-married women who live outside the city tend to underuse Pap smear screening. These findings help indicate priority groups which should be targeted to increase screening and consequently reduce cervical cancer. Our data also provides a good baseline for comparison of rates of Pap smear screening by various sociodemographic factors in the future.