Factors affecting cervical cancer screening by papanicolaou smear among women in Amphur Muang Nan,Nan Thailand.

Abstract

Back ground : Cervical cancer is a preventable disease with the use of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening. In 2002, the Department of Medical Services under the Ministry of Public Health proposed this screening test for all Thai women at 5 years interval from the age of 35-60 years. However, the coverage in Amphur Muang of Nan Province has been rather low at the rate of 42.37 percent and 33.61 percent for the year 2006 and 2007.

Objective : To study factors that influence women in Amphur Muang of Nan Province to have Pap smear screening of cervical cancer.Subjects and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample size of 1000 women who have Pap smear screening during August 1,2008 to December 31, 2008. The subjects were voluntarily interviewed by using questionnaires. The data were analysed for factors that affected their
decision to have the tests done on them.

Results : Overall, 89.9percent of the target group had previous experience of Pap smear screening, 52.1percent had been screened within the last 3 years and 37.8percent found to be screened more than 3 years. The rest 10.1 percent had never been tested. The most common reason in the first group (<3 years) was fear of cervical cancer and health consciousness. The reason in the following group (>3 years) was no abnormal symptoms and the last screening result was normal. No abnormal symptoms and embarrassment was the reason for the last group who had never been screened.

Conclusion : Most of the women in the target group had Pap smear screening done in this study. The most common reason in women who did not have the screening done was no abnormal symptom. Health education should improve the rate of Pap smear screening in the group.

Key words : Cervical cancer, Pap smear screening