Cervical cancer services for Indigenous women: advocacy, community-based research and policy change in Australia.

Full Abstract

Collaborative research undertaken in the state of Queensland, Australia, resulted in major changes in cervical cancer screening and treatment for Indigenous women. Guided by an Indigenous statewide reference group and with an Indigenous researcher playing a lead role, qualitative data were collected using interviews, focus groups, larger community meetings; and case studies were conducted with health workers and community members from diverse rural, remote and urban communities, to explore the different cultural and structural factors affecting understanding and awareness of cervical cancer and Indigenous women's use of and access to health services for screening, diagnosis and treatment. These data were supplemented by an analysis of clinical data and health service checklists. We discuss the methodology and summarize the key social and structural factors that discourage women from presenting for screening or returning for follow-up. These include women's misunderstanding of cervical cancer screening, fear of cancer, and distrust of health services, poor recall and follow-up systems, and the economic and social burden to women to presenting for treatment. We describe how the research process and subsequent activities provided Indigenous women with a vehicle for their own advocacy, resulting in important policy and program changes.

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Author information

Author/s: Manderson, Lenore (L); Hoban, Elizabeth (E);

Affiliation: School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145, Australia. lenore.manderson(-atsign-)med.monash.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Women & health (Women Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 43 (issue 4) : pp 69-88

Dates: Created 2006/11/30; Completed 2007/02/22;

PMID: 17135089, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Community Health Planning - organization & administration
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Policy
Health Promotion - organization & administration
Humans
Mass Screening - organization & administration

Medically Underserved Area
Oceanic Ancestry Group - psychology
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology
Queensland
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis; ethnology; prevention & control
Women's Health - ethnology
Women's Health Services - organization & administration

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