Pap Prevalence and Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Alaska Native Women

• Published in: Health care for women international 1999-09, Vol.20 (5), p.471-486
• Main Authors: Lanier, A P, Kelly, J J, Holck, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alaska; American Indians; Attitude to Health - ethnology; Cancer; Eskimos; Female; Females; Health Care Utilization; Health Education - organization & administration; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Indians, North American - education; Indians, North American - psychology; Indians, North American - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Nursing; Prevention; Program Evaluation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tests; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - ethnology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Vaginal Smears - psychology; Vaginal Smears - utilization; Women's Health; Womens Health Care
• ISSN: 0739-9332; 1096-4665
• DOI: 10.1080/073993399245566

The goals of the Alaska Native Women's Health Project (WHP) were to determine the following: (1) Pap prevalence based on chart review before and during an intervention period; (2) the level of understanding of cancer and cancer screening services with emphasis on cervical cancer; (3) use and satisfaction with current health maintenance services; and (4) improvement in knowledge and cancer screening rates following intervention. A random sample of 481 Alaska Native (Eskimo, Aleut, Indian) women living in Anchorage were interviewed face to face about their understanding of cancer risk factors (tobacco use, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), reproductive issues), cancer screening examinations (Pap test, breast self-examination (BSE), breast exam by a provider, mammography), and their attitudes about health care and health care services. Sixty-two percent of control women were documented to have had at least one Pap test within the 3-year period prior to the beginning of the study; however, only 9% were documented to have had annual Pap screening. The intervention included distribution of educational materials, counseling on any woman's health issue, special evening clinics, and reminders (mail/phone call) of scheduled Pap appointments. A second interview was conducted after the intervention period among 200 women randomly selected from the original 481 participants. Chart reviews were also completed for the 481 participants, 130 nonparticipants, and 250 randomly selected controls. Improvement in Pap screening rates, knowledge of cervical cancer, and a high level of satisfaction with the project intervention was documented.