Follow-Up of Abnormal Pap Smears Among Incarcerated Women

Risk factors for cervical cancer are endemic among incarcerated women, and brief incarcerations make follow-up a challenge. This article describes Pap smear results and follow-up evaluations among women in a combined jail and prison system. Medical records of 785 women incarcerated between 1999 and 2004 were reviewed. Charts with abnormal Pap smear results (195) were reviewed for cervical cancer risk factors and colposcopy results. Women with ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) Pap smears were less likely to have had a colposcopy than other women, but biopsy results often demonstrated significant pathology. Longer length of incarceration post–Pap smear was associated with undergoing colposcopy. Providing Pap smears and colposcopy to this population of women is vital in the prevention of cervical cancer.