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Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on September 30, 2005
Journal of Public Health 2005 27(4):344-347; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdi055
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© The Author 2005, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved.

Women with learning disability and uptake of screening: audit of screening uptake before and after one to one counselling



Mira Biswas

Helena Whalley

Julie Foster

Ellis Friedman

Richard Deacon
Mira Biswas, Associate Specialist in Public Health, Helena Whalley, Learning Disability Team Nurse, Julie Foster, Learning Disability Team Nurse, Ellis Friedman, Director of Public Health, Richard Deacon, PCT Cancer Lead, Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust, 31/33 Kenyon Road, Lomeshaye Estate, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 5SZ

Address correspondence to Mira Biswas. Email: mira.biswas{at}bprpct.nhs.uk

Background This study investigates the breast and cervical screening status of women with moderate to severe learning disability and whether uptake could be improved by one to one counselling.

Methods An audit of screening uptake of women in contact with the National Health Service (NHS) learning disability service within the eligible age groups for breast and cervical screening before and after one to one counselling by a learning disability team nurse.

Results Of the eligible 48 women, 37 (77 per cent) had undergone breast screening indicating that uptake was excellent and comparable to the average national and local uptake. As for cervical screening, of the 160 women who were identified as eligible and were contactable, only 26 (16 per cent) were having regular smear tests. At the end of the project, which involved one to one counselling by the nurses to encourage uptake, nine additional women underwent smear tests bringing the uptake rate to 22 per cent. For the remaining 96 women (60 per cent) the reasons at the time for non-uptake were recognized as appropriate.

Conclusions Although the uptake of breast screening was found to be good, cervical screening uptake for women with learning disability was low and remained low after a supportive intervention designed to increase uptake. The greater acceptability of breast screening in women with moderate to severe learning disability compared to cervical screening has been confirmed.

Keywords: breast screening, cervical screening, counselling, learning disability


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