Factors Affecting Cervical Screening Among Turkish Women

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is second most common cancer among women worldwide. Objective: To determinate pap smear test rates and affecting factors among Turkish women. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional questionnaire study covered 397 women consulting at Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of Birth and Children’s Hospital in Ordu province, enrolled non-consecutively as volunteers after providing informed consent. Data for women who had a history of at least one pap smear in her history were compared with those having none. Results: 24.7% of women had knowledge about the pap smear test and 11.8% of them had undergone at least one pap smear test. Higher mean age (p=0.000), high education level (p=0.013), duration of marriage (p=0.001), working outside home (p=0.000), use of contraceptive method (p=0.000), history of cancer in women’s family or relatives (p=0.021), having a sexually transmitted disease history (p=0.042), positive attitude towards gynecologic examination of women (p=0.000) and considering oneself in a cervical cancer risk group (p=0.004) were positively associated with a pap smear test history. Conclusion: Since the rate of pap smear testing was very low, education of women about screening and protection against cervical cancer appears a high priority.