Prevalence and factors associated with cervical cancer preventive screening in a Peruvian region

Estudios originales

Published on 25 de septiembre de 2023 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2023.08.2709

Prevalence and factors associated with cervical cancer preventive screening in a Peruvian region

Distribution of sociodemographic, socio-sanitary factors, cervical cancer awareness, and attitudes and information.

Factors	N (1146)	%
Sociodemographic factors
Age (years)
25 to 29 years	359	31.3
30 to 49 years	425	37.1
50 to 64 years	362	31.6
Number of children
None	102	8.9
1 to 2	542	47.3
3 or more	502	43.8
Pregnancy history
None	94	8.2
1 to 2	489	42.7
3 or more	563	49.1
Beginning of sexual activity (years)
12 to 17	772	67.4
18 to 29	367	32
30 or more	7	0.6
Educational level
None	20	1.7
Primary	146	12.7
Secondary	652	56.9
Higher education	328	28.6
Marital status
Married/cohabiting	828	72.3
Divorced/separated	262	22.9
Single	56	4.9
Region of origin
Coast	909	79.3
Highlands	209	18.2
Jungle	28	2.4
Area de residence
Rural	336	29.3
Urban	810	70.7
Socio-sanitary factors
Use of a contraceptive method
No	682	59.5
Yes	464	40.5
Health insurance
EsSalud	234	20.4
SIS	789	68.8
Other	6	0.5
No insurance	117	10.2
Received recommendation from healthcare personnel to undergo screening
No	330	28.8
Yes	816	71.2
Do you have a gynecological disease?
No	1052	91.8
Yes	94	8.2
Do you have a family member/friend with cervical cancer?
No	942	82.2
Yes	204	17.8
Are you worried about getting cervical cancer?
No	381	33.2
Yes	765	66.8
Cervical cancer awareness
Is it possible to prevent cancer?
No	81	7.1
Yes	1065	92.9
Have you ever heard of cervical cancer?
No	81	7.1
Yes	1065	92.9
Have you ever heard of HPV?
No	191	16.7
Yes	955	83.3
Do you think HPV can cause cervical cancer?
No	198	17.3
Yes	948	82.7
Attitudes and information regarding cervical cancer and screening tests
Need to be screened despite feeling well.
No	116	10.1
Yes	1030	89.9
Considers it risky to undergo screening tests
No	1052	91.8
Yes	94	8.2
Possibility of curing cervical cancer with early detection
No	208	18.2
Yes	938	81.8
Likelihood of developing cervical cancer regarding women her age
Higher probability	217	18.9
Lower probability	368	32.1
Same probability	561	49
Would stop screening for fear of diagnosis.
No	968	84.5
Yes	178	15.5
Would you consider it uncomfortable to undergo preventive screening tests?
No	857	74.8
Yes	289	25.2
Age, mean (SD)	40.7 (12.7)

EsSalud, Peruvian Social Health Insurance. HPV, human papillomavirus.SD, standard deviation. SIS, Integral Health Insurance.

Source: Own database from the study results.