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Cervical cancer attitudes and beliefs—A Cape Town community responds on world cancer day

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Abstract

Background. Attitudes and beliefs affect women’s cervical cancer screening behavior. Methods. We surveyed 228 women in Cape Town, South Africa about their screening history, knowledge, beliefs, and access barriers regarding Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and cervical cancer. Results. More than half of the participants had never had a Pap smear or had 1 more than 10 years ago. One third did not know what a Pap smear was. Lengthy wait times and fatalistic beliefs also affected screening behavior. Ethnicity was associated with differences in beliefs. Conclusions. Opportunistic cancer screening events are an effective way that women can obtain Pap smears and cancer education.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Maghboeba Mosavel PHD (Assistant Professor of Medicine)

    Present address: Center for Reducing Health Disparities, MetroHealth Medical Center, R213, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, 44109-1998, Cleveland, OH

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

    Christian Simon PHD

  2. Cancer Association of South Africa, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Salome Meyer MW, UCT

  3. Center for Reducing Health Disparities, MetroHealth Medical Center, R213, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, 44109-1998, Cleveland, OH

    Catherine Oakar BA

Authors
  1. Maghboeba Mosavel PHD
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  2. Christian Simon PHD
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  3. Catherine Oakar BA
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  4. Salome Meyer MW, UCT
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maghboeba Mosavel PHD.

Additional information

Supported by an NIH NCI R25 Prevention Research Educational Postdoctoral Training Grant, and supplementary funding was provided by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Mosavel, M., Simon, C., Oakar, C. et al. Cervical cancer attitudes and beliefs—A Cape Town community responds on world cancer day. J Canc Educ 24, 114–119 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190902854590

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