Cervical cancer: preventive behavior of health self care

Abstract

In Brazil, cervical cancer is the third most common malignant tumor among women. This study aimed at characterizing working women of a clothing institution according to socioeconomic and Ob/Gyn variables, finding out their preventive behavior concerning the disease and identifying factors associated to the performing or not of Pap smears. It is an exploratory and descriptive study, with 116 women who answered a questionnaire in July 2005. Results: age between 20 and 29 years old (45.7%); medium level of schooling (67,2%); family income between 3 and 4 times the minimum wage (50%); have partners (95.6%); 81% mentioned having a sexual partner in the last 12 months, although a small number of those women (9.5%) use condoms as a contraceptive method; 50% initiated sexual activity at the age of 18 or older; 47.4% had 2 births or less, and 46.55% had never given birth. As for cervical cancer prevention, 46.6% of the women had had pap smears performed; 57.8% of them underwent the preventive exam outside the public healthcare system. Thus, it is necessary to facilitate the access of women to cytopathological exams within the basic public health services. Also, it is necessary to make them aware of the importance of condoms as a preventive method against sexually transmitted diseases and as a contraceptive method.