Disparity of Cervical Cancer Risk in Young Japanese Women: Bipolarized Status of HPV Vaccination and Cancer Screening
Mariko Taniguchi,
Yutaka Ueda,
Asami Yagi,
Ai Miyoshi,
Yusuke Tanaka,
Ryoko Minekawa,
Masayuki Endo,
Takuji Tomimatsu,
Kei Hirai,
Tomio Nakayama,
Tadashi Kimura
Affiliations
Mariko Taniguchi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Yutaka Ueda
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Asami Yagi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Ai Miyoshi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Yusuke Tanaka
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, 1179-3 Nagasone-cho, Sakai 591-8025, Osaka, Japan
Ryoko Minekawa
Ogata Family Clinic, 2-3 Matsunouchi-cho, Ashiya 659-0094, Hyogo, Japan
Masayuki Endo
Department of Children’s and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 1-7, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Takuji Tomimatsu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Kei Hirai
Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, 1-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Tomio Nakayama
Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku 104-0045, Tokyo, Japan
Tadashi Kimura
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
Women born between 1994 and 1999 achieved high vaccination rates for human papillomavirus (HPV); they are now reaching the age of cervical cancer screening programs in Japan. In this study, we aimed to investigate the health awareness of HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated women and to create tailored leaflets recommending cervical cancer screening for each. Surveys on the cancer screening rates for HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated women aged 20 and 21 have demonstrated that the rate was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in vaccinated (6.2%) than in unvaccinated women (3.1%). Next, interviews and Internet questionnaires clarified that there was a trend that vaccinated women have a better health consciousness than the unvaccinated ones, and that in unvaccinated women, their willingness to receive cervical cancer screening was significantly enhanced by the fear of developing cancer. Finally, in a prospective study, the increase in the screening rate for both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups after they read tailored leaflets, from 6.4% to 7.4% and from 3.9% to 5.1%, respectively, was not statistically significant compared to the groups provided with a standard reminder letter. Cervical cancer control measures might be enhanced by recommending cervical cancer screening in ways better tailored to HPV vaccination status.
