[Accessibility to healthcare services in the recent cervical cytology performed in an urban area in Colombia].

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is a public health problem in developing countries. Cytology of the uterine cervix has been promoted to change this situation, the coverage thereof not being adequate for many different reasons. This study is aimed at delving into the relationship between the recent cervical cytology performed and that performed three years previous to the survey, insurance and access to healthcare services. METHODS An analysis was made of 1,021 records of women within the 18-64 age range from a cross-sectional study conducted in an urban area of Bogota (Colombia). Research was conducted regarding the date of the last cervical cytology undergone, access to healthcare services, health insurance affiliation and socio-demographic variables. Once the data had been gathered, a descriptive analysis was conducted and a logic regression model was then constructed. RESULTS A 97.8% response was achieved. A total of 38 of the 1,021 records were ruled out due to their being records of women having had hysterectomies. A total of 733 (69.7%) of the other 983 records reported a recent cervical cytology, which was related to being over 30 years of age, being from a middle-class socioeconomic stratum, not being single, having a major degree of schooling, health insurance affiliation and having a health institution to which to go for care when needed. CONCLUSIONS Short-range and medium-range strategies aimed at increasing healthcare insurance and access to healthcare services are fundamental for increasing the coverage of performing cervical cytologies in developing countries.