Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Pap test by women, Northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 851 - 858
• Main Authors: Fernandes, José Veríssimo, Rodrigues, Silvia Helena Lacerda, Costa, Yuri Guilherme Alexandre Silva da, Silva, Luiz Cláudio Moura da, Brito, Alípio Maciel Lima de, Azevedo, Judson Welber Veríssimo de, Nascimento, Ermeton Duarte do, Azevedo, Paulo Roberto Medeiros de, Fernandes, Thales Allyrio Araújo de Medeiros
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-10-2009
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Physician's Role; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Vaginal Smears - psychology; Women's Health; Young Adult; Brazil
• DOI: 10.1590/S0034-89102009005000055
• EISSN: 1518-8787

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women related to the Pap test and the association between these behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics.
A household survey with quantitative approach was conducted. A total of 267 women aged 15 to 69 years, randomly selected in a stratified manner, living in the city of São José de Mipibu, Northeastern Brazil, were interviewed in 2007. A questionnaire consisting of pre-coded open questions was administered and answers were described and analyzed, as for adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women regarding the Pap test. Tests of association were carried out between sociodemographic characteristics and behaviors studied at a 5% significance level.
Although 46.1% of the women interviewed showed adequate knowledge about the Pap test, a significantly higher proportion of adequacy was seen regarding attitudes and practices, 63.3% and 64.4%, respectively. Higher schooling was associated with adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The main barriers to the Pap test were negligence, non-requesting by their physicians, and shame.
The physician is the main source of information about the Pap test. However, women who more often attend medical visits, despite their good practice, show low adequacy of knowledge and attitudes related to the Pap test, which indicates that they are not receiving appropriate information on the test's purpose, advantages and benefits to women's health.