<b>Knowledge about the papanicolaou test by elderly women</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i2.13070

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge about the Pap smear by women who make use of the Elderly Assistance Unit (UAI), located in Uberaba/MG, as well as assess the practice of this test and the socio-demographic characteristics of these women. It is an epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study. Data collection occurred from June to August 2010, using a questionnaire with information on the women’s socio-demographic profile and administration of the Pap smear. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The participants were 335 women aged 54 to 90 years. The majority of the women (307 = 91.6%) have heard about the Pap smear, 99.7% (334) of the participants answered it should be done once a year, and 70.4% (236) of them reported having a Pap smear every year. This study demonstrated that the majority of the women at UAI have Pap smear awareness and performed it regularly. Evaluations such as this demonstrate the knowledge about the Pap smear increases its practice, assisting in early detection of cervical cancer.