Preventive cancer screening: social determinants of participation in mammography and pap tests

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the extent to which social factors are influential in determining women's participation in cancer screening services in Prince George, British Columbia. Specifically, this thesis evaluated the association of age, income, education, work status, disability, marital status, and immigrant status with previous use of screening mammography for breast cancer and Pap tests for cervical cancer. Data were obtained from the 1994 National Population Health Survey which contained a sample of 416 women from the Prince George area. A series of logistic regression analyses were used to distinguish ever versus never screened, as well as recency of previous screening. Participation rates in screening mammography in Prince George are comparatively high, however no association was found between social factors and previous mammography use. This suggests women in Prince George are participating in mammography services regardless of social background. Participation rates in Pap test screening in Prince George are high and are similar to provincial averages; however, while a large percentage of women have been screened, this percentage varies across social groups. Immigrant women, single women, and women with less education are over represented among women who have never had a Pap test. In addition, older women are less likely to obtain recent screening when compared to younger women. These results imply the need to focus education and recruitment strategies for increasing participation Pap test screening at specific groups of women in Prince George.