Trends in Cervical Cancer Screening in Title X-Funded Health Centers — United States, 2005–2015

Cervical cancer screening is critical to early detection and treatment of precancerous cells and cervical cancer. In 2015, 83% of U.S. women reported being screened per current recommendations, which is below the Healthy People 2020 target of 93% (1,2). Disparities in screening persist for women who are younger (aged 21–30 years), have lower income, are less educated, are uninsured, lack a source of health care, or who self-identify as Asian or American Indian/Alaska Native (2). Women who are never screened or rarely screened are more likely to develop cancer and receive a cancer diagnosis at later stages than women who are screened regularly (3). In 2013, cervical cancer was diagnosed in 11,955 women in the United States, and 4,217 died from the disease (4). Aggregated administrative data from the Title X Family Planning Program were used to calculate the percentage of female clients served in Title X-funded health centers who received a Papanicolaou (Pap) test during 2005–2015. Trends in the percentage of Title X clients screened for cervical cancer were examined in relation to changes in cervical cancer screening guidelines, particularly the 2009 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) update that raised the age for starting cervical cancer screening to 21 years (5) and the 2012 alignment of screening guidelines from ACOG, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) on the starting age (21 years), screening interval (3 or 5 years), and type of screening test (6–8). During 2005–2015, the percentage of female clients screened for cervical cancer dropped continually, with the largest declines occurring in 2010 and 2013, notably a year after major updates to the recommendations. Although aggregated data contribute to understanding of cervical cancer screening trends in Title X centers, studies using client-level and encounter-level data are needed to assess the appropriateness of cervical cancer screening in individual cases.

The Title X Family Planning Program supports the delivery of contraceptive and related preventive care to a population that is predominantly female, low income, uninsured, young, and racially and ethnically diverse. For many clients, Title X centers are their only ongoing source of care. As a condition of their funding, Title X-funded health care providers are required to adhere to nationally recognized standards of care and adapt protocols as guidelines are updated. Among the 3.6 million female clients who received care in one of 3,900 Title X-funded health centers in 2015, more than 743,000 were screened for cervical cancer (9).

This analysis used data from the Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR), which is an annual reporting requirement for all Title X service grantees (9). The study examined FPAR data for 64 grantees in the 50 states and the District of Columbia that received continuous Title X funding during 2005–2015, a period during which the service networks for these grantees served 3.2 million to 4.3 million women annually (Table). For each grantee, an FPAR consists of aggregated data (e.g., client characteristics, services provided, and revenue) for all subrecipients and clinics that receive Title X funds.

The outcome of interest was the percentage of female clients who received a Pap test. Because FPAR does not have Pap testing data by age or test type, age group–specific measures for receipt of other recommended preventive health services that are available in FPAR were included. These other preventive health service measures included the percentage of females aged ≤19 years and 20–24 years who were tested for chlamydia and the percentage of females aged ≤19, 20–29, and 30–44 years at risk for unintended pregnancy who adopted or continued using an effective contraceptive method. The inclusion of additional preventive care measures, particularly measures for females aged ≤19 years for whom cervical cancer screening was not recommended, permitted assessment of trends in other services that were expected to either increase or remain level. Females at risk for unintended pregnancy excluded those who were pregnant, seeking pregnancy, or not using a method for “other” reasons.* Effective contraceptive methods include female sterilization, vasectomy, intrauterine devices/systems; hormonal methods (implant, injectable, pill, ring, and patch); and diaphragm. Also included in the analysis was a measure for receipt of clinical breast exams; data on mammograms received were not available.

Trends in cervical cancer screening were compared with trends in the receipt of other recommended services to examine indirectly how changes in cervical cancer screening might reflect screening recommendations in effect during the analysis period. The expectations for the analysis were 1) a decline in cervical cancer screenings because of recommendations raising the starting age for screening and moving away from annual screenings; 2) no change or an increase in recommended chlamydia testing and contraceptive use; and 3) a gradual decline in clinical breast exams because of the differences in major recommendations about whether a clinical breast exam should be performed and the clarification in the U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use^† that neither a Pap test nor a clinical breast exam contributes substantially to safe and effective contraceptive use.

During 2005–2015, the percentage of female clients screened for cervical cancer decreased gradually; the percentage of female Title X clients screened for cervical cancer declined from 51% in 2005 to 21% in 2015 (Figure). The largest 1-year decline (from 41% to 35%) occurred in 2010, after release of ACOG’s 2009 screening guideline that increased the recommended age for the first Pap test to 21 years. The second largest 1-year decline (from 27% to 23%) occurred in 2013, after the 2012 alignment of USPSTF, ACOG, and ACS recommendations on the age at first Pap test and age group–specific screening intervals.

The percentage of clients receiving other recommended preventive health care, specifically chlamydia testing and contraception, increased or remained level, even in the 2 years (2010 and 2013) following major updates to cervical cancer screening recommendations (Figure). Among females aged ≤19 years for whom cervical cancer screening was not recommended by ACOG in 2009 or by USPSTF and ACS in 2012, the percentage tested for chlamydia increased from 54% (2009) to 60% (2015) and the percentage using an effective contraceptive method increased from 72% (2009) to 77% (2015). Among females aged 20–24 years, chlamydia testing rates increased from 56% in 2009 to 61% in 2015, and effective contraceptive use among females aged 20–29 years increased from 74% (2009) to 76% (2015). During 2005–2015, the percentage of females of all ages who received a clinical breast exam declined from 53% to 30%.

Corresponding author: Christina I. Fowler, cfowler@rti.org, 919-316-3447.

¹RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; ²Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC; ³Office of Population Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Affairs; ⁴Office of Women’s Health, Health Resources & Services Administration.

References

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TABLE. Characteristics of Title X grantees and demographic characteristics of female clients served — 2005–2015 Family Planning Annual Report,* 50 states and the District of Columbia

Abbreviations: LEP = limited English proficiency; PG = poverty guideline.
* The Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR) is the annual reporting requirement of all Title X services grantees. FPAR data for Title X-funded centers are aggregated and reported at the grantee level. The study sample includes data for 64 grantees that received Title X funding during the entire study period; data for grantees in the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States were excluded. https://www.hhs.gov/opa/title-x-family-planning/fp-annual-report/index.htmlExternal.
^† Includes male clients.
^§ Clients’ income is reported as a percentage of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guideline for each year. https://aspe.hhs.gov/prior-hhs-poverty-guidelines-and-federal-register-referencesExternal.

FIGURE. Cervical cancer screening recommendations in effect, including major changes in 2009 and 2012,* and percentages of female Title X clients in receipt of cervical cancer screening,^† chlamydia testing,^§ and clinical breast exams,^¶ and continued use or adoption of effective contraception** among, by year — Family Planning Annual Report,^†† 50 states and the District of Columbia, 2005–2015

Abbreviations: ACS = American Cancer Society; ACOG = American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; CBE = clinical breast exam; USPSTF = U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

* During 2005–2012, cervical cancer screening recommendations from ACS, ACOG, and USPSTF for women at average risk with a cervix varied in terms of starting age (within 3 years of first sex or age 21 years), stopping age (65–70 years), and interval (annually, every 2 years, or every 3 years), based on age, prior negative test results, or type of screening test (conventional or liquid cytology or co-testing using a combination of cytology plus human papillomavirus DNA testing [HPV co-test]). During this period, there were two major changes in screening recommendations that are notable. In 2009, ACOG updated its cervical cancer screening recommendation by raising the starting age for screening to 21 years. In 2012, cervical cancer screening recommendations from ACS (March 2012), USPSTF (March 2012), and ACOG (November 2012) were congruent. The recommendations were that screening start at age 21 years, that it occur at the following intervals using specific methods; 21–29 years: every 3 years using cytology alone; 30–65 years: every 3 years (cytology) or every 5 years (HPV co-test); >65 years: stop screening if there is an adequate negative prior screening history, defined as two (co-test) or three (cytology) consecutive negative results within the past 10 years and the most recent test was performed within 5 years. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/guidelines.pdfCdc-pdf.

^† Percentage of females who received a Pap test in the calendar year.

^§ Percentage of females aged ≤19 years or 20–24 years who received a chlamydia test in the calendar year. During 2005–2014, CDC recommended routine annual chlamydia screening for sexually active women aged ≤25 years and for sexually active older women at increased risk for infection (e.g., new or multiple partner[s]). In June 2015, CDC lowered the age range for routine annual screening to ≤24 years. During 2007–2015, the USPSTF recommended screening for sexually active women aged ≤24 years and for sexually active older women at increased risk for infection; evidence was insufficient to recommend an optimal screening interval.

^¶ Percentage of females who received a CBE in the calendar year. During 2005–2015, ACOG recommended annual CBE for women aged ≥19 years and ACS recommended CBE with a periodic health exam every 3 years (aged 20–39 years) or annually (aged ≥40 years). In 2002, USPSTF concluded that evidence was insufficient to recommend for or against routine CBE alone to screen for breast cancer. In 2009, USPSTF concluded that current evidence was insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of CBE beyond screening mammography in women aged ≥40 years.

** Percentage of females aged ≤19, 20–29, and 30–44 years, at risk for unintended pregnancy (not pregnant or seeking pregnant, or not using method for “other” reason), who adopted or continued using effective contraception (female sterilization; vasectomy; intrauterine device; hormonal implant, injectable, pills, ring, or patch; and diaphragm) at their last encounter.

^†† The Family Planning Annual Report is a reporting requirement of Title X service grantees. This study uses data for 64 grantees that received continuous funding during the study period. https://www.hhs.gov/opa/title-x-family-planning/fp-annual-report/index.htmlExternal.

The figure above is a line graph showing the cervical cancer screening recommendations that were in effect, including major changes in 2009 and 2012, and the percentages of female Title X clients in receipt of cervical cancer screening, chlamydia testing, and clinical breast exams, and continued use or adoption of effective contraception, by year, according to the Family Planning Annual Report, in 50 states and the District of Columbia, during 2005–2015.