Cervical Screening Access for Women with Learning Disabilities
Author Information
Author(s): Fiona Reynolds, Debbi Stanistreet, Peter Elton
Primary Institution: University of Manchester
Hypothesis
Are women with learning disabilities more likely to be ceased from cervical screening than women without?
Conclusion
Women with learning disabilities are significantly less likely to receive cervical screening and more likely to be ceased from the screening program compared to women without learning disabilities.
Supporting Evidence
- Women with learning disabilities were 0.48 times less likely to have been screened than those without.
- Women with learning disabilities had an odds ratio of 2.05 for being ceased from screening.
- Only 27% of women with learning disabilities received screening compared to 76% of those without.
Takeaway
Women with learning disabilities have a harder time getting cervical screening tests than women without disabilities, which isn't fair.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study comparing cervical screening records of women with learning disabilities to those without, using case-control methods.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to incomplete coding of learning disabilities in patient records.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and varied use of Read Codes across areas, which may affect the accuracy of results.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 25-64 from Bury, Heywood-and-Middleton, and Rochdale.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
0.38–0.58
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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