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International Journal of Epidemiology 2008 37(4):862-869; doi:10.1093/ije/dyn118
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2008; all rights reserved.

Who is getting Pap smears in urban Peru?

Valerie A Paz Soldan1,*, Frank H Lee2, Cesar Carcamo3, King K Holmes4, Geoff P Garnett5 and Patricia Garcia3

1 International Health and Development Department, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
2 Student, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
3 Epidemiology, STI and HIV/AIDS Unit, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
4 Department of Global Health and Medicine and Center for AIDS & STD, University of Washington Schools of Medicine and of Public Health & Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
5 Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College of London, UK.

* Corresponding author. International Health and Development Department, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. E-mail: vpazsold{at}tulane.edu


  Abstract

Background Cervical cancer, although usually preventable by Pap smear screening, remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Peru. The percentages and characteristics of women in Peru who have or have not had a Pap smear have not been defined.

Methods In an urban community randomized trial of sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV prevention in Peru, 6712 randomly selected women between the ages of 18 and 29 from 20 cities were interviewed regarding having had cervical Pap smears.

Results Among women sampled, only 30.9% had had a Pap smear. By multivariate analysis, the main predictors of having a Pap smear were having had sex, having had children, completion of secondary education and increasing age. Regional variations were also found: women from the highlands and rainforest were less likely to have had Pap smears than women from the coast.

Conclusion A norm of seeking and receiving Pap smears has not been established among sexually active young Peruvian women. To improve Pap smear coverage in Peru, promotion efforts should target underserved women and regions with less coverage.

Keywords Vaginal smear, Peru

Accepted 19 May 2008


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