Abstract

URRUTIA S, María Teresa et al. ¿POR QUÉ LAS MUJERES NO SE TOMAN EL PAPANICOLAU?: BARRERAS PERCIBIDAS POR UN GRUPO DE MUJERES INGRESADAS AL PROGRAMA DE CÁNCER CERVICOUTERINO AUGE. Rev. chil. obstet. ginecol. [online]. 2008, vol.73, n.2, pp. 98-103. ISSN 0717-7526.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-75262008000200005.

Background: At the beginning of the 70s, the exam of cervical cytology was introduced in Chile. The ad-herence to this exam has demonstrated its utility for the opportune search of the pathology and mortality decrease. Objective: To examine perceptions about the Papanicolau (PAP) test from the perspectives of Chilean women with premalignant lesions. Method: Descriptive, qualitative, and cross-sectional study in a group of 237 women from AUGE program in the Southeast Metropolitan Public Health Service, Santiago, Chile. Results: The principal reasons for not having had a PAP test were procrastination; the problems related to the PAP test procedure like fear, embarrassment, discomfort, and lack of time; and lack of knowledge. Conclusión: All the reasons given by the Chilean women in this study have been described in the international literature. Health professionals are in a position to change the perspective that the women have, and therefore for increasing the education and cervical cáncer screening for women. Results of this study can serve as a guide for education programs and can be applied in clinical practice.

Keywords : Papanicolau test; cervical cancer; health programs; barriers.