Smear test restrictions see fall in screenings
A free and accessible cervical cancer screening programme was the most effective way to ensure women attended for regular smear tests, Well Woman insisted yesterday.
CervicalCheck changed its policy last September and only women in receipt of an “invitation letter” can now access a free test.
Well Woman’s 2009 report notes a marked drop in smears taken from September through to the end of the year.
In March 2009, Well Woman’s three clinics that are based in Dublin saw more than 1,335 women for smear tests. Six months later, when CervicalCheck changed its policy, Well Woman saw 322 women.
Well Woman chief executive Alison Begas said they started the year with an unprecedented demand for cervical screening, partly due to a significant advertising programme by CervicalCheck and the death from cervical cancer of reality TV star Jade Goody.
“Leaving aside the ‘Jade Goody factor’, our experience is that women, who ordinarily did not prioritise attending for a regular smear, felt encouraged to do so when CervicalCheck offered a freely available programme,” said Ms Begas.
She also pointed out that from the women who attended for smears last year, a higher number than usual had to be referred for a colposcopy – a gynaecological examination of the cervix, because of smear abnormalities.
“It is unfortunate that CervicalCheck now operates solely on a pre-registration basis and we hope, in the interests of women’s long-term health, that this change can be revisited,” said Ms Begas.
Well Woman also noted a marked drop in the demand for sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and said the fall-off was due to the impact of the economic downturn on people’s financial capacity.
“The numbers attending for STI testing has fallen by about one-third since they peaked in 2007. This is more likely a reflection of people’s more limited spending power than a behavioural change,” said Ms Begas.
She explained that STI testing was more expensive than other sexual and reproductive services because considerable time and overheads were incurred in taking the samples, analysing them and collating the results.
“While price may now be emerging as an inhibitor to some people who could benefit from STI testing, the long-term health consequences for them could be very serious,” she warned.
Ms Begas said financial pressure became a frequently cited reason as to why women felt they could not continue with a crisis pregnancy last year.
“During our pregnancy counselling sessions, many women raised concerns about income security.
“Women wish to provide sufficiently for their family and household requirements and a crisis pregnancy has become an increasing source of stress for those with income pressures.”
