Little is known about abnormal cervical cancer screening results of women who are behind bars. The test was conducted by using data from two cross-sectional surveys of women in jails and community corrections about their history of abnormal pap tests. Univariate analyses (analysis of variance [ANOVA] and chi-square) and a binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to test associations between histories of abnormal Pap testing and factors known to be associated with cervical cancer.
Women in jails and prisons are at high risk for cervical cancer, and cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer among female prisoners,"(Binswanger et al., 2011, p.2). Women behind bars have greater odds than the general population of having cervical cancer. Pap testing (cervical cytology) is a way to detect precancerous and cancerous cervical lesions by identifying women who need further diagnosis and treatment. Few studies of cervical cancer or screening have included women in jails and prison. In this test they sampled 390 participants, 188 were in jail and 202 were in community supervision programs.
The two surveys were identical, with the exception that the survey administered to the community custody sample had additional questions not used in the current analysis. The self-administered surveys included demographic information (e.g., self-reported race), most frequent birth control used history of STIs and other gynecologic infections, number of sexual partners in the past 3 months, number of pregnancies, number of live births, tobacco...
"Women in jail and under community justice supervision reported a high prevalence of risk factors for cervical cancer. Because of their high prevalence of abnormal Pap testing, women in criminal justice settings may be appropriate targets for improved cervical cancer screening, prevention with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, risk reduction education, and treatment," (Binswanger et al., 2011, p.1).
Response:
I do not believe that the testing used actually compares women in custody or non-custodial supervision programs with women in the general population. Therefore, I find some of the statements about them being at greater risk than the general population to be conclusory; I would have liked to see comparisons with the general population in the same geographic area. I say this because I do not believe that, in some geographic areas, a lack of access to healthcare screening is that unusual. Therefore, I would have liked to see the comparisons between the people in the study and people in the same geographic area. However, even if this were true, it would not suggest that women in prisons or non-custodial settings should not be subjected to higher preventative healthcare screenings; it simply suggests that people in the general population should have greater access to healthcare.
