Socioeconomic deprivation and the incidence of cervical cancer in New Zealand: 1988-1998.

AIM

This study aims to identify the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and cervical cancer incidence in New Zealand.

METHOD

A 10-year cohort of cervical cancer cases was identified from the population-based New Zealand Cancer Registry. The New Zealand Deprivation Index (NZDep96) is a validated census-based measure of material and social deprivation in geographically defined small-population groups. Incidence rates of cervical cancer were correlated with socioeconomic deprivation.

RESULTS

There were 2629 new registrations of cervical cancer from 1988 to 1998. A positive association was found between socioeconomic deprivation and incidence rates of cervical cancer. Women living in the most socially and materially deprived areas of New Zealand were more than twice as likely to develop cervical cancer than women living in socially and materially advantaged areas.

CONCLUSION

Greater socioeconomic deprivation is associated with an increased incidence of cervical cancer in New Zealand. The link between socioeconomic deprivation and cervical cancer incidence is likely to be complex. The identification of modifiable factors in cervical screening uptake in areas of socioeconomic deprivation should be a research priority.