Cervical screening
The National Cervical Cancer Screening Program recommends a Cervical Screening Test for females aged 25–74 every 5 years, to check for the presence of human papillomavirus, a common virus that can cause cervical cancer. This renewed cancer screening program was introduced in December 2017 and replaced the Pap test every 2 years in females aged 18– 69 (Cancer Council Australia 2022; Department of Health and Aged Care 2022).
Prison entrants screened for cervical cancer
More than a half (55%) of female prison entrants reported having received a screening for cervical cancer in the previous 5 years (Indicator 1.5.4).
Female prison entrants reported higher rates of cervical cancer screening than females in the general community (55% compared with 46%) (AIHW 2021). However, rates were lower among First Nations entrants (41%) than among non-Indigenous entrants (65%).
Prison dischargees screened for cervical cancer
Nearly 2 in 5 (38%) female prison dischargees reported receiving a cervical cancer screening in prison (Indicator 1.5.5).
First Nations female dischargees were more likely to report receiving a cervical cancer screening in prison (46%) than non-Indigenous female dischargees (29%).
The majority of female dischargees had been in prison for less than 12 months. With cervical screening recommended every 5 years, many dischargees might not have been due for a cervical cancer screening during their period of incarceration.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2021) Cancer in Australia 2021, AIHW website, accessed 25 May 2023.
Cancer Council Australia (2022), National Cervical Screening Program Guidelines, Cancer Council Australia, accessed 25 May 2023.
Department of Health and Aged Care (2022) National Cervical Screening Program – National Cervical Screening Policy, Australian Government, accessed 25 May 2023.