Cervical screening participation rates

Cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia,¹ with an average of 30 women diagnosed each year. On average, 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women die each year from cervical cancer.²  Both incidence and mortality rates are higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women compared the rest of Australia.

Cervical screening can detect precancerous abnormalities and cancers detected through screening are more likely to be at an earlier stage.² It is likely that higher rates of cervical screening among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women would contribute to improved outcomes for cervical cancer through earlier detection and treatment and would increase the potential for prevention of cervical cancer.

For more information about the broader Australian community see the NCCI ‘Cervical screening rates’

Data availability

There are currently no national data available for this indicator.

National cervical screening rates for Indigenous women are not available, as Indigenous status information is not collected on pathology forms in all jurisdictions, however there is evidence from a range of sources that Indigenous women are under-screened.

In the absence of national participation data, an interim measure for participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the National Cervical Screening Program is the percentage of eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients of organisations reporting national Key Performance Indicators for whom cervical cancer screening participation is recorded. 

Further information

• Cancer Australia. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Framework. Priority area 3: Increase access to and participation in cancer screening and immunisation for the prevention and early detection of cancers
• Cancer Australia. Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. Step 1: Prevention and early detection
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Key Performance Indicators for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. Incidence. Web report. Last updated 15 March 2018. [Accessed 1 June 2020]

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. Cervical cancer (C53). Web report. Last updated 15 March 2018. [Accessed 5 June 2020]