“Pap smear screening rates, beliefs about inappropriate screening intervals and factors affecting screening were examined using the 1987 National Health Interview Survey data. Results indicate that through age 69, Blacks are screened at similar or higher rates than Whites. Hispanics, particularly those speaking only or mostly Spanish, are least likely to have received a Pap smear within the last three years.”

“Data from the 1987 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to examine factors associated with the use of Pap smears by women in the United States. The NHIS Cancer Control questionnaire was completed by 12,868 women age 18 and older.”

“Many more Hispanic women have never heard of a Pap smear than either Black or White women. The proportion of women under the age of 70 having never heard of a Pap smear was 2.6 percent for White, 5.1 percent for Black, and 19.7 percent for Hispanic women. As expected, compliance with screening is lower in Hispanics than for either Blacks or Whites.”

“Data here confirm the findings of Makuc, et al. that screening in Black women now exceeds screening in Whites… Although the screening rates are higher for Blacks, the mortality rate is lower for Whites. This may be due to the fact than only recently have screening rates increased above those for Whites. It is also possible that follow-up of positive Pap smears is not as complete for Black women.

“Data suggest that Hispanic women are at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity from cervical cancer. Despite this fact, it is clear that these women are not being adequately screened…Over 11 percent (age-adjusted) of the Spanish speaking women reported they were non-compliant with screening because their physician had not suggested it or had said it was unnecessary.”