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. 2014 Oct 22;14:1096. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1096

Table 4.

Reasons for non-attendance among women overdue for screening (number endorsed, per cent in brackets)

Ethnicity Birthplace Religiosity*
Overall (n = 67) Caribbean (n = 35) African (n = 29) UK born (n = 20) Not UK born (n = 47) None/low (n = 18) Medium (n = 21) High (n = 27)
Practical barriers
I meant to go but didn’t get around to it 19 (28.4) 11 (31.4) 8 (27.6) 11 (23.4) 8 (40.0) 6 (33.3) 5 (23.8) 7 (25.9)
It is difficult to get an appointment at a time that suits me 11 (16.4) 9 (25.7) 1 (3.4) 11 (23.4) 0 (0) 3 (16.7) 4 (19.0) 4 (14.8)
Too busy/inconvenient 9 (13.4) 5 (14.3) 4 (13.8) 5 (10.6) 4 (20.0) 4 (22.2) 1 (4.8) 4 (14.8)
Emotional Barriers
Fear of the test procedure 12 (17.9) 3 (8.6) 9 (31.0) 9 (19.1) 3 (15.0) 1 (5.6) 5 (23.8) 6 (22.2)
Fear of a ‘bad’ result 10 (14.9) 5 (14.3) 5 (17.2) 6 (12.8) 4 (20.0) 3 (16.7) 4 (19.0) 3 (11.1)
Bad experience of cervical screening in the past 6 (9.0) 3 (8.6) 3 (10.3) 6 (12.8) 0 (0) 4 (22.2) 1 (4.8) 1 (3.7)
Embarrassment 6 (9.0) 2 (5.7) 4 (13.8) 5 (10.6) 1 (5.0) 1 (5.6) 2 (9.5) 3 (11.1)
Beliefs about screening
I do not believe I am at risk 12 (17.9) 4 (11.4) 7 (24.1) 9 (19.1) 3 (15.0) 5 (27.8) 1 (4.8) 6 (22.2)
I do not believe the test is needed 4 (6.0) 0 (0) 3 (10.3) 2 (4.3) 2 (10.0) 2 (11.1) 1 (4.8) 1 (3.7)
Other
I have never been invited for screening 9 (13.4) 4 (11.4) 5 (17.2) 5 (10.6) 4 (20.0) 1 (5.6) 3 (14.3) 5 (18.5)
I didn’t understand the screening invitation letter 1 (1.5) 1 (2.9) 0 1 (2.1) 0 (0) 1 (5.6) 0 (0) 0 (0)

*None/low: Rarely or never; Medium: 1-3 times a month/A few times a year; High: At least once a month.