Barriers to Cervical Screening Among Sex Workers in Vancouver.

OBJECTIVES

We longitudinally examined the social, structural, and geographic correlates of cervical screening among sex workers in Metropolitan Vancouver, British Columbia, to determine the roles that physical and social geography play in routine reproductive health care access.

METHODS

Analysis drew on (2010-2013) data from an open prospective cohort of sex workers (An Evaluation of Sex Workers' Health Access). We used multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE) to model correlates of regular cervical screening.

RESULTS

At baseline, 236 (38.6%) of 611 sex workers in our sample had received cervical screening, and 63 (10.3%) were HIV-seropositive. In multivariable GEE analysis, HIV-seropositivity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06, 2.58) and accessing outreach services (AOR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.09, 1.66) were correlated with regular cervical screening. Experiencing barriers to health care access (e.g., poor treatment by health care staff, limited hours of operation, and language barriers) reduced odds of regular Papanicolaou testing (AOR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.65, 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Sex workers in Metropolitan Vancouver had suboptimal levels of cervical screening. Innovative mobile outreach service delivery models offering cervical screening as one component of sex worker-targeted comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services may hold promise.