Why Do Chilean Women Choose to Have or Not Have Pap Tests?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perceptions of Chilean women about why women choose to have or not have Pap test screening.

DESIGN: Qualitative research using content analysis according to Krippendorf.

SETTING: Four urban health clinics in Santiago, Chile.

PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-seven Chilean women.

METHODS: Audiotaped focus groups.

RESULTS: Six themes emerged: Reasons that make it difficult for women to schedule appointments, Characteristics of health professionals that make it difficult to have a Pap test, Characteristics of the test that are barriers to having a Pap test, The relationship of the test with cancer, Family context, and Each woman's personal characteristics.

CONCLUSION: Primary health care providers play an important role in promoting adherence to cervical cancer screening. Nurses should proactively address women's perceptions and knowledge about screening and openly and uniformly discuss the importance and benefits of Pap test screening.