Table 4 Reasons for non-attendance among women overdue for screening (number endorsed, per cent in brackets)
Ethnicity | Birthplace | Religiosity* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall (n = 67) | Caribbean (n = 35) | African (n = 29) | UK born (n = 20) | Not UK born (n = 47) | None/low (n = 18) | Medium (n = 21) | High (n = 27) | |
Practical barriers | ||||||||
I meant to go but didn’t get around to it | 19 (28.4) | 11 (31.4) | 8 (27.6) | 11 (23.4) | 8 (40.0) | 6 (33.3) | 5 (23.8) | 7 (25.9) |
It is difficult to get an appointment at a time that suits me | 11 (16.4) | 9 (25.7) | 1 (3.4) | 11 (23.4) | 0 (0) | 3 (16.7) | 4 (19.0) | 4 (14.8) |
Too busy/inconvenient | 9 (13.4) | 5 (14.3) | 4 (13.8) | 5 (10.6) | 4 (20.0) | 4 (22.2) | 1 (4.8) | 4 (14.8) |
Emotional Barriers | ||||||||
Fear of the test procedure | 12 (17.9) | 3 (8.6) | 9 (31.0) | 9 (19.1) | 3 (15.0) | 1 (5.6) | 5 (23.8) | 6 (22.2) |
Fear of a ‘bad’ result | 10 (14.9) | 5 (14.3) | 5 (17.2) | 6 (12.8) | 4 (20.0) | 3 (16.7) | 4 (19.0) | 3 (11.1) |
Bad experience of cervical screening in the past | 6 (9.0) | 3 (8.6) | 3 (10.3) | 6 (12.8) | 0 (0) | 4 (22.2) | 1 (4.8) | 1 (3.7) |
Embarrassment | 6 (9.0) | 2 (5.7) | 4 (13.8) | 5 (10.6) | 1 (5.0) | 1 (5.6) | 2 (9.5) | 3 (11.1) |
Beliefs about screening | ||||||||
I do not believe I am at risk | 12 (17.9) | 4 (11.4) | 7 (24.1) | 9 (19.1) | 3 (15.0) | 5 (27.8) | 1 (4.8) | 6 (22.2) |
I do not believe the test is needed | 4 (6.0) | 0 (0) | 3 (10.3) | 2 (4.3) | 2 (10.0) | 2 (11.1) | 1 (4.8) | 1 (3.7) |
Other | ||||||||
I have never been invited for screening | 9 (13.4) | 4 (11.4) | 5 (17.2) | 5 (10.6) | 4 (20.0) | 1 (5.6) | 3 (14.3) | 5 (18.5) |
I didn’t understand the screening invitation letter | 1 (1.5) | 1 (2.9) | 0 | 1 (2.1) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |