These researchers reviewed screening histories of women diagnosed with confirmed or possible cervical cancer between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012 in order to identify where improvements could be made to the National Cervical Screening Programme. A total of 772 confirmed diagnoses of cervical cancer were identified; the incidence rate was 6.9 per 100,000 women per year. Of 644 women aged 25–69 years with cervical cancer, just 13% had undergone regular cervical cancer screening according to national guidelines. Pacific and Asian Women (54% and 59%, respectively) were less likely than European or Māori women (76% and 73%, respectively) to have ever had a cervical screen. Adequate screening (defined as no between-screen interval of more than 3 years during the 6 months to 7 years before diagnosis) was low amongst Māori and Pacific women (6% and 5%, respectively) and less than that of European or Asian women (18% and 11%, respectively). Women residing in areas of greater socioeconomic deprivation were less likely to have had screens at most time intervals and were less likely to have regular screens than women who were residing in less deprived areas. A significant proportion (37%) of women who developed cervical cancer had undergone screening in the preceding 3-year screening interval prior to their cancer diagnosis.
