Opting off the New South Wales Pap Test Register in a sexual health setting.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of women having a Pap smear at Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) who opted off the NSW Pap Test Register (PTR) and to establish the characteristics of these women. DESIGN: Retrospective cross sectional study involving three time periods during 1996 and 1997. SETTING: A public sexual health centre in Sydney. PARTICIPANTS: 985 women who had a Pap smear at SSHC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The participant's decision to opt on or off, and the demographic and behavioural characteristics associated with opting off the PTR. RESULTS: 590 (59.9%) women opted off the PTR. Using logistic regression, young age (p=0.005), birth outside Australia and New Zealand (p=0.0001), not speaking English at home (p=0.005) and being a commercial sex worker (CSW) (p=0.0001) were variables associated with opting off the PTR. Women from countries outside of Australia and New Zealand were more likely to opt off, whether or not they were a CSW and CSWs were more likely to opt off the PTR irrespective of their country of birth (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: The majority of women (60%) attending the SSHC opted off the PTR. Studies to evaluate culturally appropriate health promotion material particularly for CSWs and women with poor English skills living in Australia are needed and if successful may improve uptake on the PTR.