Women’s Perceptions and Attitudes about Cervical Cancer in Turkey: Kato’s Device as an Alternative to the Pap Smear

Abstract

Aims: To determine the status of women’s perception and attitudes about cervical cancer and their thoughtson Kato’s self-sampling device. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: This descriptive research was conducted between July-December 2012 with a study populationof married women older than 18 years. <br/><b>Results</b>: A total of 246 womenvolunteered, with a mean age of 34.9±9.22 (19-52). In the last year, 52.0% had been examined by a gynecologistto address a complaint or for a periodic health check. Of the 118 who had not had a gynecological examination,42.4% indicated negligence, 26.3% stated the reason was no complaint, 14.4% feared they might receive badresults from the examination, and 8.5% stated that were shy or embarrassed. Of all of the women, 35.0% answeredthat they had information about cervical cancer, and 0.7% had heard about the HPV vaccine. No one in theirfamilies had received the vaccine. Of the women, 28.5% had had a Pap smear, and 71.4% of those had normalresults. Of those who had never had a Pap smear, 47.2% had never heard about the test; 18.8% explained thereason for not having a test as shyness or embarrassment with a male doctor. None of the women had heardabout Kato’s device. Once the women were informed, 73.6% expresseed interest in use; 51.9% answered theycould use it and not be embarrassed, 30.9% would use it because they did not have to see a doctor, and 17.1%would use it as it allows them to take a smear in all conditions and whenever they want. Of the women, 60.0%thought that they could not successfully use Kato’s device; 40.0% thought that a smear should be taken by adoctor. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Most of the women in our population had never had a Pap smear and wanted to use theKato’s device