Factors affecting utilization of cervical cancer prevention services in low-resource settings.
Strategies for introducing or strengthening cervical cancer prevention programs must focus on ensuring that appropriate, cost-effective services are available and that women who most need the services will, in fact, use them. This article summarizes the experiences of research projects in Bolivia, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, and Mexico. Factors that affect participation rates in cervical cancer prevention programs are categorized in three sections. The first section describes factors that arise from prevailing sociocultural norms that influence women's views on reproductive health, well being, and notions of illness. The second section discusses factors related to the clinical requirements and the type of service delivery system in which a woman is being asked to participate. The third section discusses factors related to quality of care. Examples of strategies that programs are using to encourage women's participation in cervical cancer prevention services are provided. This paper is available too at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.
Bingham
Allison
A
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, 1455 NW Leaty Way, Seattle, WA 98107, USA. abingha@path.org
Bishop
Amie
A
Coffey
Patricia
P
Winkler
Jennifer
J
Bradley
Janet
J
Dzuba
Ilana
I
Agurto
Irene
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D007843:Latin America; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013019:South Africa; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*