[Knowledge of women about the Pap test in a basic health unit in Natal/RN, Brazil]. / Conhecimento de mulheres de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde da cidade de Natal/RN sobre o exame de Papanicolau.

This is a descriptive quantitative research carried out at a Basic Health Unit in Natal, State of Rio Grande do Norte, aimed at measuring the knowledge that women have on the importance of the Pap test and the frequency in which they undertake it, as well as how they prepare themselves to undertake it and the causes that lead women to not submit to it. For data collection a structured interview prior to the gynecologic consultation was used, with an intentional sample of 120 women. The results show that the surveyed women are aware of the importance of the test, that most of them undertake it annually and that they generally have satisfactory knowledge as for the care they must take prior to undertaking it. Embarrassment and fear of the results are the main causes associated with the refusal to undertake the test. It can be concluded that the educative projects are to be focused on the importance, the frequency and the care that must be taken prior to the test, as well as on the professional-client interaction during the gynecologic consultation, with the aim of reducing women's embarrassment and fear.