Conhecimentos, atitudes e prática do exame de Papanicolaou por mulheres, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women related to the Pap test and the association between these behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: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. RESULTS: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. CONCLUSIONS: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.

Exame papanicolaou em gestantes: conhecimento dos enfermeiros atuantes em unidades de atenção primária à saúde Pap smears in pregnant women: knowledge of nurses working in units of primary health care

“…A study conducted in the Northeast region of Brazil shows that the main causes for not performing the examination are: shame and lack of examination requesting by the health professional, being also seen that women have little knowledge about the exam. 13 Thus, the study is similar to the posture adopted by professionals of this research and detected that less than half of the professionals perform the examination in pregnant women.…”

Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases by homosexual and bisexual women: a descriptive study

“…Em estudo que abordou os conhecimentos das mulheres em geral sobre o exame do Papanicolau, justificativas como vergonha, incômodo em realizá-lo e falta de orientação na solicitação do exame pelo médico, foram apontados como barreiras para sua realização (12) . As entrevistadas manifestaram dificuldades em falar sobre sua sexualidade e avaliaram que há despreparo dos profissionais de saúde, que se apresentam com pouca ou nenhuma sensibilidade para lidar com as suas necessidades de saúde, especialmente no tocante à sexualidade.…”

O Não Comparecimento Ao Exame Preventivo Do Câncer De Colo Uterino: Razões Declaradas E Sentimentos Envolvidos

“…Assim como em estudo realizado na região norte do Brasil, o descuido com a própria saúde foi um dos principais motivos apontados pelas participantes para a não realização do exame (11) . Os resultados também corroboram estudo realizado em Belém/PA, que constatou que muitas mulheres só procuram assistência à saúde quando já estão doentes.…”