Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the Pap test among women in northeastern Brazil / Conhecimentos, atitudes e praticas sobre o exame de Papanicolaou em mulheres do nordeste brasileiro
São Paulo med. j
; 132(1): 3-9, 2014. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-699300
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE:
The Papanicolaou (Pap) test has been shown to be effective in preventing cervical cancer. However, both the national and international literature shows that Pap testing has not reached the level of coverage desired. The objective of this study was to assess women's knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the Pap test and to investigate whether there are any associations between these three factors and the women's sociodemographic characteristics. DESIGN ANDSETTING:
Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Floriano, Piauí.METHODS:
The study was conducted among 493 women between November 2009 and December 2010. A questionnaire with precoded questions was sed, and the responses were analyzed in terms of appropriateness in relation to the Pap test.RESULTS:
The degrees of adequacy of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the Pap test were 36.7%, 67.2% and 69.6%, respectively. Among the main barriers against testing, absence of symptoms and a sense of embarrassment were the most notable.CONCLUSIONS:
Women who visit doctors periodically had the most appropriate practices regarding the Pap test, but their knowledge of the procedure was poor. This suggests that these women were not receiving adequate information about the benefits of periodic testing. .RESUMO
CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:
O exame de Papanicolaou já mostrou efetividade na prevenção de câncer do colo do útero. A literatura nacional e internacional tem mostrado que o exame de Papanicolaou não tem alcançado o índice de cobertura desejado. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas entre mulheres em relação ao exame de Papanicolaou e verificar se existe associação entre esses comportamentos e as características sociodemográficas. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL Estudo descritivo e transversal realizado em Floriano, Piauí.MÉTODOS:
O estudo foi conduzido com 493 mulheres no período de novembro de 2009 a dezembro de 2010. Utilizou-se m questionário com perguntas precodificadas, cujas respostas foram analisadas quanto à adequação dos comportamentos em relação ao exame.RESULTADOS:
Os graus de adequação dos conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas em relação ao exame foram de 36,7%, 67,2% e 69,6%, respectivamente. Dentre as principais barreiras para a sua realização, destacaram-se a ausência de sintomas e a vergonha.CONCLUSÃO:
As mulheres que realizam consultas periodicamente apresentam prática mais adequada, porém com baixa adequação de conhecimentos frente ao procedimento, sugerindo que não estejam recebendo as informações adequadas sobre os benefícios da realização periódica do exame de Papanicolaou. .
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas
/
SDG3 - Health and Well-Being
Health problem:
Goal 11: Inequalities and inequities in health
/
Goal 9: Noncommunicable diseases and mental health
/
Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality due to noncommunicable diseases
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
/
Papanicolaou Test
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Aspects:
Equity and inequality
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
São Paulo med. j
Journal subject:
Cirurgia Geral
/
Cincia
/
Ginecologia
/
Medicine
/
Medicina Interna
/
Obstetr¡cia
/
Pediatria
/
Sa£de Mental
/
Sa£de P£blica
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Federal do Piaui/BR