CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Predictors of Pap Smear Screening in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Elderly Women

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective for this study was to identify predictors for participation in Pap smear screening in a socioeconomically disadvantaged older population.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine data from 238 southern women 50 years of age and older who were recruited from 24 randomly selected congregate meal sites of the Council on Aging.

MEASUREMENTS: The 45-item questionnaire covered demographics, Pap smear screening history, and colorectal cancer screening history.

RESULTS: Among this older, very low income population, women who had never had Pap smears

(17.2%) were significantly more likely to have no phone or to be unable to use a phone (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-10.6), to have annual incomes of less than $5,800

(aOR = 3.1; 95% CI 1.1-9.0), to be widowed (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.1-7.3), to have no family history of cancer (aOR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-10.0), to report having never had a rectal examination (aOR = 5.4, 95% CI

1.8-16.0), and not to have participated in a free fecal occult blood testing program (aOR = 5.0, 95% CI 2.0-10.0).

CONCLUSIONS: These data, unique in including very low income (

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1995

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, v. 43, no. 3, p. 267-270.

Dr. Ann Coker had not been a faculty member of the University of Kentucky at the time of publication.

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