Personal and Socio-Cultural Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in Iran, Patient and Provider Perceptions: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Although cervical cancer is preventable and early screening might decrease the associated mortality, challenges faced by the women and health care providers can postpone early detection. This qualitative study aimed to establish patient and provider perceptions about personal and socio-cultural barriers for cervical cancer screening in Mashhad, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the present study, which was conducted in 2012, eighteen participants, who were selected purposefully, participated in individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using conventional content analysis and Atlas-Ti software. Results: One theme and two categories were derived from data including: cognitive/behavioral factors (lack of a community-based approach to cervical cancer, lack of awareness, wrong attitude and lack of health seeking behaviors) and socio/cultural issues (socio-cultural invasion, mismatch between tradition, modernity and religious, extra marital relationships and cultural taboos). Conclusions: Providing community based approach education programs and employing social policy are needed for preventing of cervical cancer in Iran.

Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening Participation in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2016 Nationwide Steps Survey

“…Moreover, the participation rates in rural areas might be more affected by under-reporting due to embarrassment in admitting to have been screened for cervical cancer than in urban settings, where negative beliefs associated with the disease is less common. [15] This study also revealed evidence of disparities in cervical cancer screening participation across socio-economic groups in Iran. Contradicting with ndings in most countries, women with higher socio-economic status had shown lower participation in cervical cancer screening program.…”

“…[12,13] Existing literature has highlighted factors like age, marital status, embarrassment, lack of knowledge, and socio-cultural beliefs around cervical cancer as the main causes of nonattendance in cervical cancer screening program in Iran. [14,15] However, despite the global growing concern about health equity in recent decades, there are limited studies examining regional and socio-economic variations in cervical cancer screening uptake in the country. Hence, this study sought to assess the disparities in cervical cancer screening participation in Iran according to the data obtained from the National Survey of The Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (STEPs 2016), and to identify socio-demographic factors that predict the participation in cervical cancer screening program.…”

Attitudes Toward Cancer and Cancer Patients in an Urban Iranian Population

“…While direct comparisons with other studies are not possible due to differences in design and study population, this is somewhat lower than results previously reported in Iran. In qualitative studies, Iranian women did not attend cervical cancer screening , and breast cancer patients delayed seeking treatment because they believed it was impossible to treat cancer. Moreover, a study evaluating Iranian women's beliefs about breast cancer showed that many of them considered the disease incurable .…”

Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala

“…Studies across the world have shown socio cultural hurdles in cervical cancer screening programs. [26,27] Socio cultural factors do play a role in community based activities in India also. These women were allowed to attend because the volunteers had promised them that the test would be done by lady doctors.…”