A percepção da mulher sobre o exame preventivo do câncer cérvico-uterino: estudo de caso Women's perceptions of preventive examinations for cervical-uterine cancer: a case study

Cervical-uterine cancer is among the most feared chronic degenerative diseases, due its high mortality and morbidity rates. This study describes women's feelings before a preventive ex- amination for cervical-uterine cancer, through a case study based on observations and semi-struc- tured interviews as data collection techniques. A total of 24 women were interviewed, between eigh- teen and sixty years old, who attended the cancer prevention unit at a basic healthcare clinic in Fortaleza, Ceara State between April and August 2004. This study shows that women generally re- quest these preventive examinations only when symptoms appear. They view this procedure with apprehension and fear, due to the possibility of a positive diagnosis of cervical-uterine cancer; they feel embarrassed at exposing their bodies for ex- amination, particularly by male physicians; and they are poorly informed about their own bodies and even their own sexuality. These findings high- light the need for healthcare practitioners to con- duct educational activities for women, in order to enhance professional relationships between healthcare providers and users, helping lower the rate of this type of cancer through more frequent preventive examinations.