A
Pap smear (also known as a Papanicolaou smear or Pap test) is a
microscopic examination of cells scraped from the cervix that is used to
detect cancerous or precancerous conditions of the cervix or other medical
conditions. In the National Health
Interview Survey questions concerning use of Pap smear
differed slightly across the years for which data are shown.
In
1987 women were asked to report when they had their most recent Pap smear
in days, weeks, months, or years. Women who did not respond were asked a
followup question, "Was it 3 years ago or less, between 3 and 5
years, or 5 years or more ago?"
In 1993 and 1994 women were
asked whether they had a Pap smear within the past year, between 1 and 3
years ago, or more than 3 years ago.
In 1998 women were asked
whether they had a Pap smear 1 year ago or less, more than 1 year but not
more than 2 years, more than 2 years but not more than 3 years, more than
3 years but not more than 5 years, or more than 5 years ago.
In 1999 women were asked
when they had their most recent Pap smear in days, weeks, months, or
years. In 1999, 4 percent of women
in the sample responded "3 years ago." In this analysis these
women were coded as "within the past 3 years," although a
response of "3 years ago" may include women whose last Pap smear
was more than 3 but less than 4 years ago. Thus estimates for 1999 are
overestimated to some degree in comparison with estimates for previous
years.
In 2000 women were asked
when they had their most recent Pap smear (give month and year). Women who
did not respond were given a followup question that used the 1999 wording
and women who did not answer the followup question were asked a second
followup question that used the 1998 wording. In 2000 less than 1 percent
of women in the sample answered "3 years ago" using the 1999
wording and they were coded as "within the past 3 years." Thus
estimates for 2000 may be slightly overestimated in comparison with
estimates for years prior to 1999.