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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2001 Mar 1;92(2):127–133. doi: 10.1007/BF03404946

Factors Important in Promoting Cervical Cancer Screening among Canadian Women: Findings from the 1996–97 National Population Health Survey (NPHS)

Colleen J Maxwell 113,✉, Christina M Bancej 213, Judy Snider 213, Shelly A Vik 313
PMCID: PMC6979945  PMID: 11338151

Abstract

Although routine Pap screening represents an effective tool in the early detection of cervical cancer, it remains underused by some Canadian women. This study examines selected sociodemographic, health, lifestyle, and system barriers to Pap test participation among 33,817 women aged 18+ years in the cross-sectional 1996–97 National Population Health Survey (NPHS).

Among women 18 years and over, 87% reported ever having had a Pap test while 72% reported a recent (<3 years) test. A report of ever and recent use was most common among women 25–34 (92% and 86.9%, respectively). Only 0.6% of recently screened women reported access problems. Among those without a recent test, most (53%) reported that they did not think it was necessary. Pap test use varied little across provinces and was less common among older and single women, those with lower education, a spoken language other than English, a birth place outside Canada and negative health and lifestyle characteristics.

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