Perception of women on cancer screening and sexual behavior in a rural area, Jamaica: Is there a public health problem?

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Health in Jamaica recommends that cervical cancer screening be undergo by women 25-54 years old. The age range is based on international standards, but this is in need for revision based on the parish of St. Thomas.

AIMS

The study aimed to evaluate the perception and practice of Pap smear and the sexual practices of women in St. Thomas in order to aid policy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 210 women (15-54 years) from St. Thomas, Jamaica.

RESULTS

Eighty eight percent of the sample had done a Pap smear and 24% indicated that they did this at least once every 12 months. The Pap smear results revealed that 83.2% of the sample was normal and 11.5% of the participants knew that their Pap smear was abnormal. Eighty percent of those with abnormal Pap smear were aged between 20-35 years. Sixty percent indicated that they did not believe they were infected with any STDs, but the Pap smear results showed that 76.4% of them had STDs. Eighty-three percent of the sample indicated having one sexual partner; 22.1% indicated that they began having sex before 15 years; 71% began having sex at 15-20 years; 76% of the sample used a condom and 12% reported that they had never practiced safe sex.

CONCLUSION

This study finds that the age interval for conducting Pap smear screening should be lowered to 20 years for women in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica.