Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death among women worldwide, despite implementation of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test, which has dramatically decreased the incidence of cervical cancer in developed nations over the past 30 years [1]. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality have been decreasing continuously in Korea. However, cervical cancer remains a clinically important disease; in fact, it is the sixth most common cancer among women and first among female genital malignancies. Thus, it is a major health problem for Korean women. Indeed, in 2008, an estimated 3,888 new cases were diagnosed, accounting for 4.5% of new female cancer cases. The incidence rate per 100,000 women was 11.2 in 2008, down from a high of 16.3 in 1999. Survival rates have also improved [2].

Since population-based cervical cancer screening was introduced, cervical cancer screening, including opportunistic as well as organized screening, has been widely available [3,4]. Currently, two population-based organized cancer screening programs exist in Korea: the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP), whose target population includes Medical Aid Program (MAP) recipients and the lower 50% of National Health Insurance (NHI) beneficiaries, and the NHI Cancer Screening Program (NHICSP), which is provided to the upper 50% of NHI beneficiaries by NHI Corporation. These two programs provide a screening test free of charge to all Korean women aged 30 and over, biennially [5].

In the present study, we sought to provide preliminary information on the NCSP for cervical cancer, based on data collected in 2009. This report describes participation rates and the percentage of abnormalities by age and insurance type. Results for the NHICSP will be reported by the NHI Corporation.

Table 1 shows the screening outcomes by age, health insurance type, and area of residence. The target population of the 2009 NCSP for cervical cancer screening included 4,577,200 females; among them, 1,349,668 underwent the Pap smear test, giving a participation rate of 29.5%. In terms of age, the participation rate was highest (39.3%) among females aged 50 to 59 years and the lowest (14.4%) among those aged 70 years and older. Regionnally, while the participation rate was the highest (34.1%) in Busan, which is the second largest city in Korea, it was the lowest (21.5%) in Chungnam, which is a rural area.

Recall rates in women aged 70 years and older and in their 30s, in contrast to the participation rates, were higher than those in the other age groups. Among the age groups, the range of recall rates for women in the NHI program was 0.31-0.51%; however, for those who were MAP recipients, the range was 0.30-0.68%, making the recall rate of women aged 70 years and older and in their 30s twice that of women in their 50s. Except for women in their 50s, in each age group the recall rate for women who were MAP recipients was higher than that for women who were NHI beneficiaries (Table 1).

The number of participants among NHI beneficiaries decreased with age, whereas the number of participants who were MAP recipients did not change with age (Fig. 1). The overall participation rate of NHI beneficiaries was higher than that of MAP recipients (31.3 and 18.4%, respectively). Additionally, the participation rate of NHI beneficiaries compared with MAP recipients was higher for all age groups (Fig. 2). The participation rates in women aged 70 years and older and in their 30s were lower than those for the other age groups. The same was true for women who were NHI beneficiaries and MAP recipients. Women who were MAP recipients were estimated to have lower participation rates than those in the NHI group for each age group.

Of all participants, 0.41% (5,529) represented abnormal cases. Compared with health insurance beneficiaries, the rate of abnormal cases involving MAP recipients was higher than those involving NHI beneficiaries by 0.12%. Regarding age, the abnormal rate decreased for older women but increased sharply for women aged 70 years and older (Table 2). The U-shaped curve representing abnormal tests by age diverged from 0.48% for women in their 30s, reached a minimum (0.33%) for women in their 60s, and approached 0.56% for women aged 70 years and older (Fig. 3). With increasing age, the proportion of LSILs reported decreased, while the proportions of HSILs and squamous cell carcinoma increased.

The participation rate in the 2009 NCSP for cervical cancer was 29.5%. Participation rates have tended to increase since the first participation rate for cervical cancer screening in the NCSP was estimated at 15.4% in 2002 [5]. However, the rate remains at a lower level compared with those in countries that have established screening programs, although it is higher than that in Japan which is also located in Asia. Regarding Europe, fourteen countries operate cervical cancer prevention programs, and their participation rates reportedly range from 10 to 79% [8]. Northern European countries that launched a similar program in the 1960s, including Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, report participation rates in excess of 75% [9]. The US has a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which was adopted in 1991 and which provides low-income, uninsured, and minority women with screening and diagnostic services for breast and cervical cancer; that program's participation rate for cervical cancer screening is 78.3% [10-12]. In 1998, the UK implemented the NHS Cancer Screening Program for women. In that country, the Pap smear test had been used to detect cervical cancer, but the liquid-based cytology method replaced it in 2003. The participation rate for cervical cancer screening in the UK was 78.9% as of March, 2009 [13]. In Japan, local governments instituted a cancer detection program in the 1960s; however, this was replaced by a national cancer detection program run by the central government upon establishment of the Health and Medical Services Law for the Aged. Cervical cancer screening started in 1982, and the participation rate was 18.8% in 2009 [14,15].

For early cancer detection programs, the participation rate is very important because early adoption of detection programs effectively lowers the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer, and the incidence rate decreases as an individual repeats the test [16]. In Sweden, which launched its cervical cancer early detection program in 1958, the number of patients in the terminal stage was dramatically reduced, making care for cancer patients more efficient [17]. In the US, women aged 18 years and over participate in cervical cancer screening tests every 3 years using the Pap smear test, and the incidence rate continues to decrease [10]. In Korea, a steady decline in both the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer has been observed; the incidence of cervical cancer decreased by 4.6% annually from 1999 to 2008 [2,18].

The NCSP for cervical cancer has shown a decreased incidence rate of cervical cancer and has had a positive effect on cancer management; however, several problems remain to be addressed. First, although the cervical cancer screening program is free of charge to participants, the participation rate among MAP recipients was 18.4%, which is much lower than that among NHI beneficiaries (31.3%). Moreover, the recall rate of MAP recipients was 0.52%, which is higher than that of NHI beneficiaries (0.40%). Regarding the US, as socioeconomic status is lowered, the incidence rate increases [19], and as the cumulative number of participants undergoing screening increases, the prevalence rate decreases [10]. In Korea, sociodemographic factors such as being married, having a higher education, a rural residence, and private health insurance were significantly associated with higher participation rates of cervical cancer screening. However, household income was not a significant factor. Additionally, the perception of not needing a Pap test due to good health or an absence of symptoms was the most frequently reported barrier to participation in cervical cancer screening [20]. Thus, stronger efforts are required to identify what obstructs MAP recipients from participating in the detection program and to develop proper institutional measures.

Second, regarding age, the participation and recall rates of women in their 30s were 17.9 and 0.48%, respectively. This represents the lowest and highest rates, respectively, except for women aged 70 years and older. Considering that the incidence rate among younger women is rising while the overall incidence rate is falling [21,22], women in their 30s must participate in a screening program to prevent cervical cancer. Additionally, the participation and recall rates of women aged 70 years and older were relatively low and high, respectively. Elderly women are said to be vulnerable to cervical cancer because they believe that menopause frees them from diseases involving the reproductive organs; thus, they tend not to participate in prevention programs. The US once limited the age of eligibility for the Pap smear test to 65 years; however, in a consensus statement announced at the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement on Cervical Cancer, women aged 65 and older were encouraged to continuously attend the screening program [23]. This implies that constant care for cervical cancer is needed after menopause, and the extension of average lifespan calls for extending the prevention period.

Differences in participation rates were identified according to health insurance type, age, and area of residence. Hence, along with improving the participation rate for cervical cancer screening, continuing efforts are required to minimize these differences. We expect that our results will be useful in creating policies and new studies to improve efforts to prevent cervical cancer in Korea.