Cervical cytology in vulnerable pregnant women

Abstract

There are many barriers to screening and prevention for cervical cancer in vulnerable populations. Newer technologies with HPV testing have helped to identify those women at highest risk for cervical cancer. Implementing strategies among healthcare providers to avoid missed opportunities for screening, assessment and education of risk factors, and offering vaccination against HPV are needed. Empowering women may begin to reduce disparities through the development of educational programs that reduce cultural and linguistic barriers to screening and awareness that socioeconomic factors may be impediments to care and adherence.

Pap smear screening, pap smear abnormalities and psychosocial risk factors among women in a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility

“…Cervical cancer is largely preventable, as the natural history and primary causative factor, persistent infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is well understood and can be detected through Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing (Loomis et al . , Binswanger et al . , Kricker et al .…”

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in pregnant versus non-pregnant women in Brazil

“…Types 16 and 18, classified as high-risk viruses for cervical cancer [3], are considered as human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [1]. Since only a small fraction of HPV-infected women develop cervical cancer, additional risk factors are important in disease development including immunosuppression [4]. In pregnancy, the immune system is physiologically suppressed.…”

Screening for cervical neoplasia in a health center in Western Andalusia

“…Were not collected variables of social class or socioeconomic status that would allow comparing our results with others published from our own region [18]. Not taken into account the variable pregnancy [19].…”