Performance indicators collected from primary health centres included in organised cervical cancer screening programme in the Republic of Serbia.

PURPOSE: To present the performance indicators for monitoring the cervical cancer screening process conducted in primary health centres (PHCs) and to identify any shortcomings in the implementation of the Organized Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (OCCSP).

METHODS

This study included 16 PHCs participating in the OCCSP in the Republic of Serbia. The data were analysed from the moment the methodology in the PHCs has been accurately and consistently applied in accordance with the European guidelines (earliest from 20th December 2012 until 30th November 2014). We constructed "the standardised" model (adjusted on the number of working months). Performance indicators analysed in this study were: coverage by invitation, coverage by examination, and compliance with invitation.

RESULTS

According to "the standardised" model, coverage by invitation was 61.9%, coverage by examination was 35.5% and compliance to invitation was 57.3%.

CONCLUSION

Social mobilization, education, effective promotion strategies and training about cervical cancer screening program-especially in women of target population-as well as better coordination and planning of capacity-building, and staff resources in PHCs, are needed in the future in order to obtain higher values for our performance indicators. Screening registration will provide additional information about demographic characteristics of the tested women.