Pap test and HIV testing behaviors of South Carolina women 18-64 years old.

BACKGROUND

Pap tests are used to detect abnormal cell growth in the cervix. Early detection of precancerous cells increases the likelihood of treatment success. In fact, the Pap test is one of only a few cancer screening procedures that can prevent cancer by virtue of identifying and intervening upon abnormal precancerous cells in the early stages. There has been a growing prevalence of cervical cancer among HIV-positive women. Early diagnosis is essential to improving survival outcomes of women living with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to describe Pap test behaviors among women in South Carolina and examine its relationship with HIV testing.

METHODS

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2008 were analyzed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to describe Pap test behaviors among our sample (n=3,404) of non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black women (18–64 years old).

RESULTS

The majority of participants (97%) reported ever having a Pap test. Participants who reported never having a Pap test were 50% less likely to have ever been tested for HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

The participants in our study met the Healthy People 2010 target of ever having a Pap test. However, less than half of participants (42%) had ever been tested for HIV. A larger proportion of women who have had a Pap test had also been tested for HIV.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Our findings suggest that offering women an HIV test during routine Pap tests may present an opportunity to increase the number of women in South Carolina who know their HIV serostatus.