Women's knowledge and experience of atypical Pap results in a high risk community

Women Health. 2002;36(4):19-31. doi: 10.1300/J013v36n04_02.

Abstract

We sought to describe the knowledge of, understanding of, and follow-up after atypical cervical cytology among low-income, urban women. Of 554 women who had an ASCUS or atypical Pap result in 1996,215 (39%) completed a telephone survey. Many (19%) had poor follow-up. Thirty percent of women denied ever being told of abnormal cytology; Spanish-speakers were more likely to be unaware (43.2% vs. 22.7%, p < .01) of abnormal cytology. Cancer fear was quite high, as were misconceptions regarding cause. Many women were unsatisfied with the information they received regarding their cytology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cervix Uteri / pathology*
  • Community Health Centers / standards*
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Minority Groups / education
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • Patient Satisfaction / ethnology
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • United States
  • Urban Health Services / standards*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / psychology
  • Vaginal Smears*