Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Diseases Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
VCS Population Health, VCS Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
PLoS One. 2020 Jun 15;15(6):e0234536. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234536. eCollection 2020.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (collectively, Indigenous Australian) women experience a higher burden of cervical cancer than other women. The National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) is failing to meet the needs of Indigenous Australian women, resulting in many women not regularly participating in cervical screening. However, one third of Indigenous Australian women do participate in cervical screening. The reasons that some women in this population commence and continue to screen remain unheard but could provide insights to support women who currently do not participate. We aimed to describe Indigenous Australian women's experiences and views of participation in cervical screening by yarning (a culturally-appropriate interview technique) with 50 Indigenous Australian women aged 25-70 years who had completed cervical screening in the past five years, recruited via Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) from three jurisdictions. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women researchers conducted the interviews. Thematic analysis identified six themes: screening as a means of staying strong and in control; overcoming fears, shame, and negative experiences of screening; needing to talk openly about screening; the value of trusting relationships with screening providers; logistical barriers; and overcoming privacy concerns for women employed at PHCCs. Despite describing screening as shameful, invasive, and uncomfortable, women perceived it as a way of staying healthy and exerting control over their health. This ultimately supported their participation and a sense of empowerment. Women valued open discussion about screening and strong relationships with health providers. We identified logistical barriers and specific barriers faced by women employed at PHCCs. This study is strengthened by a research approach that centred Indigenous Australian women's voices. Understanding the experiences of Indigenous Australian women who participate in screening will help screening providers support women to start and continue to screen regularly. Recommendations for practice are provided.
（原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民（统称为澳大利亚原住民））女性患宫颈癌的负担比其他女性更高。国家宫颈癌筛查计划（NCSP）未能满足澳大利亚原住民女性的需求，导致许多女性未能定期参加宫颈癌筛查。然而，仍有三分之一的澳大利亚原住民女性参与了宫颈癌筛查。该人群中一些女性开始并继续接受筛查的原因尚未得到重视，但这可能为支持目前不参与筛查的女性提供一些见解。我们旨在通过与过去五年内在 PHCC 参加过宫颈癌筛查的 50 名 25-70 岁的澳大利亚原住民女性进行（一种文化上适当的访谈技术） yarn（一种文化上适当的访谈技术），描述澳大利亚原住民女性参与宫颈癌筛查的经验和看法。研究人员采访了澳大利亚原住民或托雷斯海峡岛民女性。主题分析确定了六个主题：筛查是保持坚强和控制的一种手段；克服对筛查的恐惧、羞耻和负面体验；需要公开讨论筛查；与筛查提供者建立信任关系的价值；后勤障碍；以及为 PHCC 工作的女性克服隐私问题。尽管女性将筛查描述为羞耻、侵入性和不舒服，但她们认为这是保持健康和控制健康的一种方式。这最终支持了她们的参与和赋权感。女性重视关于筛查的公开讨论和与卫生提供者的牢固关系。我们确定了后勤障碍和 PHCC 工作的女性面临的具体障碍。本研究的优势在于以澳大利亚原住民女性的声音为中心的研究方法。了解参与筛查的澳大利亚原住民女性的经历将有助于筛查提供者支持女性开始并定期继续筛查。提供了实践建议。
