Attitudes toward Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Associated Factors in Turkish Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine attitudes toward early diagnosis of cervical cancer and associated factors in Turkish women. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional type. The study conducted with women in Family Health Center in Manisa, the province of Türkiye, aged 30 – 65 who are still and/or were sexually active (n=339). Sociodemographic form and the cervical cancer early diagnosis attitude scale were used in the study. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 22.0. In the analysis, descriptive statistics and Student t tests were used. Results: The mean age of the women in the study group was 38.7±6.52. The mean total score of the cervical cancer early diagnosis attitude scale was found to be 99.38±7.11 at a moderate level. It was seen that 64.3% of women had a pap-smear test. It was observed that having regular gynecological examinations and having persons with cervical cancer in their families affects the attitudes of women towards early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Conclusion: The average score of the cervical cancer early diagnosis attitude scale of the women in the study group was found to be moderate. It has been determined that having regular gynecological examinations affects women’s cervical cancer early diagnosis attitudes.