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Abstract

Statement of the Problem: In South Africa, cervical cancer is rife among black women and approximately 3,680 women die of cervical cancer every year and one in every 41 women will within their lifetime develop cervical cancer. Women having a Pap smear were associated with 70% lower odds of developing cervical cancer compared to those who have never been screened, but among black women Adentola (2011) found that 60.5% never received Pap smear. A variety of factors ranging from low socio-economic status, low level of education and unemployment to superstitious beliefs about the disease can be adduced to make it difficult for women in South Africa to accept health care or seek early detection of cervical cancer. As the population of women continues to increase in the midst of widespread superstition in South Africa, especially in the Limpopo Province, the researchers deemed it necessary to assess the attitudes and beliefs of women attending rural health facilities regarding cervical cancer screening. Methodology: A cross sectional design was employed for this study. This design enabled the researchers to collect data about the attitudes and beliefs of women attending rural health facilities regarding cervical cancer screening at one point in time. Thus the attitudes, regarding cervical cancer screening were appropriately assessed and the relationships among variables determined. Findings: Whilst about 1 in every 3 participants (n=203; 59.0%) disagreed that Papnicolaou (Pap) is painful, nearly 7 in every 10 participants disagreed that Pap smear is embarrassing and at the same time agreed that there is no need to worry about signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. Furthermore, this study established a positive significant correlation between the belief that cervical cancer can be diagnosed by Pap smear and ever heard about Pap smear (r=0.405; p<0.01). Significance & Conclusion: Health education and promotion is, paramount in the Department of Health education, therefore initiative of raising cervical cancer awareness among South African women is necessary.

Biography

Mudau Azwinndini Gladys is a Professional Nurse, a Midwife, Community Nurse, Nurse Educator, Primary Health Care Nurse, Nurse Manager, an Epidemiologist and a Biostatistician. She has completed her honors from the University of Venda in 2011 and Master of Public Health from the University of Venda in 2014.