Social support and cervical and breast cancer screening in Argentinean women from a rural population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether emotional social support influences the use of 3 cancer screening tests in females.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Data were collected via a household survey of a random sample of 200 Argentinean women.


METHODS
The questionnaire included self-reported data about the cancer screening tests (Papanicolaou [Pap] test for cervical cancer, breast self-examination, and clinical examination for breast cancer), and socioeconomic background information. Social support was measured by the Duke-UNC-11 questionnaire.


METHODS
Logistic models were used to investigate the association between social support and cancer screening tests.


RESULTS
Emotional social support was associated with having participated in Pap screening within 3 years before this study, but a link between social support and self or clinical breast examination was not supported.


CONCLUSIONS
Emotional social support may play a role in early cervical cancer detection among Argentinean females, specifically by encouraging performance of the Pap test. The educational practices accomplished by nurses should include actions that involve the family and community; therefore, emphasizing the importance of social ties on health and promoting interactions between target women and existent social groups in the community.
Gamarra
Carmen Justina
CJ
Department of Community Health, Institute of Social Medicine, The State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. carmen@ims.uerj.br
Paz
Elisabete Pimenta Araújo
EP
Griep
Rosane Harter
RH
D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult