Cervical cancer: a qualitative study on subjectivity, family, gender and health services.
BACKGROUND
In 2002, cervical cancer was one of the leading causes of death in Mexico. Quantitative techniques allowed for the identification of socioeconomic, behavioral and biological characteristics that are part of its etiology. However such characteristics, are inadequate to explain sufficiently the role that emotions, family networks and socially-constructed categories such as gender play in the demand and utilization of health services for cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment and neither the timely undertaking of preventive actions, such as getting a PAP smear or seeking adequate and continuous treatment.


METHODS
A qualitative study was carried out to analyze the role of different social and cultural factors in the timely detection of cervical cancer. As part of a multi-level, multi-method research effort, this particular study was based on individual interviews with women diagnosed with cervical cancer (identified as the "cases"), their female friends and relatives (identified as the "controls") and the cases' husbands.


RESULTS
The results showed that both: denial and fear are two important components that regulate the behavior of both the women and their partners. Women with a small support network may have limited opportunities for taking action in favor of their own health and wellbeing.


CONCLUSIONS
Women tend not to worry about their health, in general and neither about cervical cancer in particular, as a consequence of their conceptualizations regarding their body and feminine identify - both of which are socially determined. Furthermore, it is necessary to improve the quality of information provided in health services.
Villafuerte
Blanca E Pelcastre
BE
Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Secretaría de Salud, México, Av, Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, C.P. 62508, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. bpelcast@correo.insp.mx
Gómez
Laura L Tirado
LL
Betancourt
Alejandro Mohar
AM
Cervantes
Malaquías López
ML