Cervical screening participation rates and numbers
Cancer Institute NSW
Published 21 November 2018
Why this indicator is important
Cervical cancer is now one of the most preventable cancers in Australia. This is mostly due to the success of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP), and the vaccination program for human papillomavirus (HPV).[1]
More than 99 per cent of cervical cancers are caused by HPV.[2] Because of this, Australia introduced a school-based HPV Vaccination Program in 2007.
In the past, cervical screening involved the Pap test. This looked for abnormal cells in the cervix, and women had it every two years.[3]
From December 2017, the Cervical Screening Test replaced the Pap test. This new test looks for HPV in the cells of the cervix. It is recommended that women aged 25 to 74 years have the test every five years, if their previous test was negative.[3]
Women already having regular screening should go for their first Cervical Screening Test when they would have been due for their Pap test. Those under 25 years should discuss cervical screening with their general practitioner (GP).[3]
About this indicator
- 56.3% of women in NSW aged 20 to 69 years took part in cervical screening during 2015-2016.
- In 2015-2016, 75,000 more women aged 20 to 69 years had cervical screening in NSW, compared with 2010-2011.
- More than 1.7 million women in NSW (82.8%) aged 20 to 69 years took part in cervical screening in the five years, 2012-2016.
Biennial cervical screening participation rate for NSW women, by age group, trend, NSW, 2011–2016
N = Number of women aged 20 to 69 years in the population who have not had a hysterectomy, 2015-2016.
Notes:
1. Data source: NSW Pap Test Register (population data are sourced from SAPHaRI, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health, and adjusted for hysterectomies).
2. Source of hysterectomy fractions: NSW Population Health Survey 2012.
3. NSW includes de-identified tests. However, de-identified tests are excluded from finer geographical breakdowns as this information is not available.
Five-year cervical screening participation rate for NSW women aged 20–69, by LHD (ranked), 2007–2011 and 2012–2016
N = Number of women aged 20 to 69 years in the population who have not had a hysterectomy, 2015-2016
Notes:
1. Data source: NSW Pap Test Register (population data are sourced from SAPHaRI, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health, and adjusted for hysterectomies).
2. Source of hysterectomy fractions: NSW Population Health Survey 2012.
3. NSW includes de-identified tests. However, de-identified tests are excluded from finer geographical breakdowns as this information is not available
4. Effective from 1 December 2017, changes to the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) now include women aged 25 to 74 years invited to undertake a primary human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years
5. Figures displayed in the graph are for 2012–2016.
References:
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cervical Screening in Australia 2013–14. 2016. Cancer Series no.97 Cat no. CAN 95. Canberra: AIHW.
2. World Health Organisation. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Factsheets. WHO, 2010. Available at http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/hpv/en/ (accessed 19 May 2015).
3. Cancer Council Australia. Introduction – Cervical cancer screening. Sydney: Cancer Council Australia, 2017. Available at https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australia/Guidelines:Cervical_cancer/Screening/Introduction (accessed 6 June 2018).