Women’s knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention: A qualitative study in the Spanish context

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to cervical cancer and its prevention in Spain.Background: Worldwide, women's knowledge about cervical cancer is low, and their attitudes towards its prevention are good, but they do not correlate with the screening uptake. Although the rates of Spanish women performing cervical cancer screening are mostly acceptable, their knowledge and attitudes about it have not been explored.Design: Qualitative descriptive study.Methods: Three focus groups were conducted, with 21 women aged 25 to 65 years.Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. For intragroup homogeneity, women participated in age groups. The COREQ reporting guidelines were used.Results: Women expressed their knowledge about cervical cancer was low. None of the participants identified the human papillomavirus as a cause of cervical cancer, nor did they mention the vaccine as a preventive measure. They all knew about the screening existence, but not about its frequency nor target population. About the attitudes and practice, 18 women had an appropriate screening, and they were favourable to this health check, claiming an increase in its frequency. Nineteen women claimed they had not received enough information from the healthcare system and a lack of social awareness in comparison with breast cancer. They demanded from the professionals more health education, a reminder of their appointments and a report of the Pap test results. Conclusions:There was a self-perceived low level of knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors and its prevention in the participants. However, they expressed favourable attitudes towards screening, and they demanded more information about cervical cancer and its prevention measures, and they regretted its low social awareness.Relevance to clinical practice: Midwives, general nurses and other nurse specialists may have a leading position in health education for cervical cancer prevention in different population levels.

Women's experiences with opting out of cervical cancer screening and the role of the nurse in the women's decision‐making process

“…The findings of the present study complement previous studies showing that women experience a lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and its screening program (Borrull‐Guardeño et al., 2021; Groves & Brooks, 2022). While the women in this study did not directly mention a lack of information as the cause of opting out, they still described that the lack of perceived relevance of CCS was a key factor for opting out.…”

“…The women in the study were reluctant to say that they had not taken part in screening, as they did not want to appear irresponsible for their own health. This fear of being stigmatised is different compared to previous studies in which women described their fear of being stigmatised as promiscuous by participating in screening for a sexually transmitted disease (Borrull-Guardeño et al, 2021;Dsuoza et al, 2021).…”

“…Women express a need to receive more information about CCS from healthcare professionals, preferably from someone at their general practitioner's office (Borrull-Guardeño et al, 2021;Mortensen et al, 2021). Nurses in general practices can play an active role in informing women to make informed decisions about participation in healthcare services (King & Busolo, 2022;McIlfatrick et al, 2014).…”

“…However, a previous study showed that CCS invitations in Scandinavia and several northern English‐speaking countries only contained a fraction of the information needed to make informed medical decisions (Kolthoff et al., 2016). Women express a need to receive more information about CCS from healthcare professionals, preferably from someone at their general practitioner's office (Borrull‐Guardeño et al., 2021; Mortensen et al., 2021). Nurses in general practices can play an active role in informing women to make informed decisions about participation in healthcare services (King & Busolo, 2022; McIlfatrick et al., 2014).…”

Effect of Age and Parity on Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women of Child Bearing Age in Anambra State

“…Women of childbearing age in Anambra State were chosen for the study because they are generally in the age period (18-40 years) when information may be gained through formal/informal education and other techniques. This group's lack of information and bad habits when it comes to cervical cancer screening and prevention could offer substantial obstacles to the uptake of cervical cancer screening when it is appropriate (Borrull-Guardeño et al, 2021). As a result, it's critical to address bad habits and information gaps before women reach the appropriate age for screening.…”