title: [Women health behaviours regarding prevention and early detection of precancerous lesions and cervical carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Poland, nearly 4000 women are diagnosed with it each year, with every second one of them dying. The primary prophylaxis includes: proper behaviour, avoidance of risk factors and vaccination against infections with of HPV. Secondary prophylaxis includes: screening and early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of the following work was to assess women's health behaviours regarding prevention and early detection of precancerous lesions and cervical carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  207 women at the age ranging from 21 to 81 (38,62 on average), were randomly chosen from women in the Przasnysz district. The women have been divided into two groups: those who were employed on various positions in hospital in Przasnysz (group A) and those who were in no way professionally involved in health service profession (group B). Research was performed using poll method and authorized questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups did not differ from each other in socio-demographic sense. Women professionally connected with health service did not display a significantly better health behaviour. The connections between age, place of residence economic status, martial status, education level and healthy behavior have not been shown in this research. Few individual cases took part in screening and above 50% of women participated in educational programmes on prevention of cervical carcinoma development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve the situation in Poland, we should intensify educational activities and initiatives, especially with indication to health service employees as proponents of health behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Pielegniarstwa Onkologicznego Wydziału Nauk o Zdrowiu Collegium Medicum im. L. Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy, Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu. anow1_xl@wp.pl
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowicki
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borowa
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruszak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016387:Women's Health