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Altová A, Kulhánová I, Reisser K, Netrdová P, Brož J, Eikemo TA, Balaj M, Lustigová M. Educational inequalities in cervical cancer screening participation in 24 European countries. Public Health 2024; 233:1-7. [PMID: 38805834 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cervical cancer screening (CCS) is an important public health measure for early detection of cervical cancer and prevents a large proportion of cervical cancer deaths. However, participation in CCS is relatively low and varies substantially by country and socio-economic position. This study aimed to provide up-to-date participation rates and estimates on educational inequalities in CCS participation in 24 European countries with population-based CCS programmes. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS Using data from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) conducted in 2019, 80,479 women aged 25-64 years were included in the analyses. First, standardized participation rates and standardized participation rates by educational attainment were calculated for all 24 countries based on each country-specific screening programme organization. Second, a series of generalized logistic models was applied to assess the effect of education on CCS participation. RESULTS Screening participation rates ranged from 34.1% among low-educated women in Romania to 97.1% among high-educated women in Finland. We observed that lower-educated women were less likely to attend CCS than their higher-educated counterparts. Largest educational gaps were found in Sweden (odds ratio [OR] = 6.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.89-10.35) and Poland (odds ratio = 5.80, 95% CI = 4.34-7.75). CONCLUSION Population-based screening initiatives have successfully reduced participation differences between women with medium and high educational attainment in some countries; however, persistent disparities still exist between women with low and high levels of education. There is an urgent need to increase participation rates of CCS, especially among lower-educated women.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Altová
- Department of Demography and Geodemography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, 12800, Czech Republic.
| | - I Kulhánová
- Department of Demography and Geodemography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, 12800, Czech Republic; Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, 12800, Czech Republic
| | - K Reisser
- Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Liebigstraße, 04103, Leipzig, Germany; Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, 6211 LK Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - P Netrdová
- Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, 12800, Czech Republic
| | - J Brož
- Department of Internal Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, V Úvalu 84, Praha 5, 150 06, Czech Republic
| | - T A Eikemo
- Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Edvard Bulls veg 17049 Trondheim, Norway
| | - M Balaj
- Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Edvard Bulls veg 17049 Trondheim, Norway
| | - M Lustigová
- Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, 12800, Czech Republic; National Institute of Public Health, Šrobárova 49/48, Praha 10, 100 00, Czech Republic
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Rigby S, Greenley R, Uuskula A, Tisler A, Suurna M, Jesse M, Bardou M, McKee M. Expanding eligibility and improving quality of cervical cancer screening in Estonia: The 2021 reforms. Health Policy 2024; 144:105077. [PMID: 38678760 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Estonia has one of the highest death rates from cervical cancer in the European Union despite having had a population-based screening programme for over 15 years. In 2021, this high disease burden, alongside a new national cancer prevention plan, prompted a series of cervical cancer screening programme reforms to address low screening uptake and evidence of variable screening test quality. The reforms had three main elements: expansion of eligibility to all women aged 30-65 regardless of insurance status; increasing test provision by enabling family physicians to take screening samples and introducing self-sampling; and improving testing procedures, replacing cytology with HPV testing as the primary screening test. Although the impact of these changes is yet to be seen, early signs suggest increased programme participation. However, at 51 %, further action to address barriers to uptake will likely be necessary. If Estonia is to avoid another period of policy dormancy, as happened between 2006 and 2021, greater clarity on screening programme accountability is required. The establishment of the National Cancer Screening Group may enable this. The first test will be the delivery of an end-to-end evaluation of the reformed programme, with an emphasis on equity of access. The next step will be to develop and deliver solutions that respond to these needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Rigby
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK.
| | - Rachel Greenley
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Anneli Uuskula
- Institute for Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila, Tartu 19 50411, Estonia
| | - Anna Tisler
- Institute for Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila, Tartu 19 50411, Estonia
| | - Maria Suurna
- Estonian Health Insurance Fund, Lastekodu, Tallinn 48 10113, Estonia
| | - Maris Jesse
- Public health and health system expert, Estonia
| | - Marc Bardou
- Centre d'Investigations Clinique INSERM 1432 CHU Dijon-Bourgogne, France; Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Martin McKee
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
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Djordjevic S, Boricic K, Radovanovic S, Simic Vukomanovic I, Mihaljevic O, Jovanovic V. Demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with cervical cancer screening among women in Serbia. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1275354. [PMID: 38249409 PMCID: PMC10796456 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1275354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Effective reduction of cervical cancer incidence and mortality requires strategic measures encompassing the implementation of a cost-effective screening technology. Serbia has made significant strides, introducing organized cervical cancer screening in 2012. However, various impediments to screening implementation persist. The aim of the study was to estimate the socioeconomic factors associated with cervical cancer screening among women in Serbia. Methods Data from 2019 National Health Survey of the population of Serbia were used in this study. The study is cross sectional survey on a representative sample of the population of Serbia. Present total number of participants analyzed in survey 6,747. Results In Serbia, 67.2% of women have done a Pap test at any time during their lives, of which 46.1% of women have undergone cervical cancer screening in the past 3 years. About a quarter of women have never undergone a Pap test in their life (24.3%). The probability of never having a Pap test have: the youngest age group (15-24 years) is 1.3 times more likely than the oldest age group (OR = 1.31), unmarried women 0.3 times more often than married women (OR = 0.37), respondents with basic education 0.9 times more often than married women (OR = 0.98), the women of lower socioeconomic status 0.5 times more often than respondents of high socioeconomic status (OR = 0.56). Conclusion Enhancement of the existing CCS would be the appropriate public health approach to decrease the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in the Republic of Serbia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavica Djordjevic
- Department of the High School of Health, Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Katarina Boricic
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut”, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Snezana Radovanovic
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Social Medicine, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
- Institute for Public Health, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Ivana Simic Vukomanovic
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Social Medicine, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
- Institute for Public Health, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Olgica Mihaljevic
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Pathophysiology, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Verica Jovanovic
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut”, Belgrade, Serbia
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Šavrova A, Jaal J, Nõmm O, Innos K. Factors associated with advanced-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer in Estonia: a population-based study. Public Health 2023; 225:369-375. [PMID: 37989009 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cervical cancer (CC) remains a crucial public health issue in Estonia, with high incidence and late diagnosis. The aim of this study was to examine time trends of stage-specific CC incidence in Estonia and factors associated with advanced-stage diagnosis of CC. STUDY DESIGN This was a nationwide population-based retrospective study. METHODS Data on CC cases diagnosed in Estonia in 2007-2018 were obtained from the Estonian Cancer Registry, including tumour, nodes, metastases stage at diagnosis. Sociodemographic data were obtained from the Population Registry. To estimate the risk of advanced-stage diagnosis (stages II-IV vs stage I) associated with sociodemographic factors, Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate univariate and multivariate prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Time trends of stage-specific CC incidence for 2005-2019 were examined with joinpoint analysis. RESULTS Incidence of stage I CC showed a significant decline of 4.9% per year since 2007, whereas no change was seen for other stages. Of the 2046 women diagnosed in 2007-2018, 1137 (55.6%) were diagnosed at an advanced stage; this proportion increased from 51% in 2007-2009 to 58% in 2015-2018 (P = 0.004). Multivariate regression analysis showed that advanced-stage diagnosis was associated with age (PR 2.16, 95% CI 1.87-2.49 for women aged ≥75 years compared with those aged 30-44 years), educational level (PR 1.32, 95% CI 1.15-1.51 for women with basic/primary education compared to university education) and marital status (PR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.29 for single women compared to married/cohabiting women). No associations were observed by region of residence or nationality. CONCLUSIONS To reduce CC mortality, it is crucial to improve prevention and early diagnosis of CC in Estonia through human papillomavirus vaccination and effective and quality-assured screening particularly targeting high-risk groups as well as encouraging symptom awareness and regular check-ups among older women.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Šavrova
- North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Womens Clinic, J. Sütiste tee 19, 13419, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - J Jaal
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, L, Puusepa 8, 50406, Tartu, Estonia
| | - O Nõmm
- National Institute for Health Development, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hiiu 42, 11619, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - K Innos
- National Institute for Health Development, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hiiu 42, 11619, Tallinn, Estonia
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