Cervical cytology in Western Australia. Frequency, geographical and socioeconomic distributions and providers of the service.

Basic data were obtained from the records of 16,069 women who had smears taken for cervical cytological examination in Western Australia during an eight-week period in 1983. The peak smear rate was 340.7 per 1000 at 25-29 years of age and fell thereafter with age. The estimated peak frequency of smears that were designated as "screening" smears was 178.3 per 1000 at 30-34 years of age. Screening smears comprised 39% to 66% of the total number of smears, depending on age. After correction for the estimated prevalence of past hysterectomy, only in the age range 20-34 years did the rate of all smears approach the rate of screening smears that would be obtained under a recommended frequency of once every three years. The frequency of screening smears was 20% less in rural areas of Western Australia than in the capital city, Perth. In Perth it fell with decreasing socioeconomic status. General practitioners took 62.4% of all smears and 70.3% of screening smears. On average, female general practitioners took twice as many smears than did male general practitioners.