Open AccessA community‐based cervical screening program in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory
Author(s) -
Gilles Marisa T.,
Crewe Susan,
Granites Ida Nungala,
Coppola Annette
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
australian journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1035-7319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00414.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical screening , family medicine , cervical intraepithelial neoplasia , community health , gynecology , obstetrics , health services , teamwork , nursing , cervical cancer , environmental health , public health , population , cancer , political science , law
We established a culturally appropriate, community‐based women's health service in Yuendumu, Northern Territory, to improve women's health and to remedy the low rate of cervical screening. During the 16 months of the program 419 cervical smears were taken, increasing coverage of the women eligible from 51 to 78 per cent Acceptance of the program was excellent, with only 2 per cent of the women approached refusing to have a smear. Over 70 per cent of the Pap smears were done by the nursing staff in the clinic; quality control was good, with 9 per cent of smears reported as having no endocervical cells. Sixty‐four per cent of screened women had normal smears and 0.9 per cent showed evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Three women were referred for treatment of CIN, two for CIN I and one for CIN III. The program illustrates how a combination of community involvement, staff stability, teamwork, and cross cultural understanding can achieve a comprehensive and successful cervical screening service in a remote Aboriginal community.