title: Assessment of cervical cancer risk in women between 15 and 49 years of age: case of Izmir.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to determine risk factors for cervical cancer for women in Izmir.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional, descriptive field covered a population of 4319 women of reproductive age (15-49) (household registration in the Mukhtar's office-2007). A total of 1,637 women were included in the sample given a four-part questionnaire through face-to-face interview by visiting the women in their homes in order to determine socio-demographic factors, obstetric history, genital hygiene and the use of family planning methods. In addition, during the data collection process, the women were given group training in order to raise awareness of cervical cancer. The number and percentage distributions of the data were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the average age of the women was 31.9±9.77 (Min: 15.00-Max: 49.00), education level of 43.4% of them was elementary school only. It was determined that 70.3% of the women experienced at least one pregnancy, 71.0% had vaginal delivery and 75.9% used a contraceptive method. In the study it was determined that among the cervical cancer related risks vaginal delivery, vaginal lavage and having three or more pregnancies had the highest rates, while having sexual intercourse before 16 years of age and having more than one sexual partner constituted lower rates. The rate of the women who stated not having a smear in the last three years was 82.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the case in terms of having Pap smear test, women's awareness on the risk factors and early diagnosis of cervical cancer was found to be low. Due to this reason, awareness of women has to be raised through education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Ege University Izmir Ataturk School of Health, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Neriman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sogukpinar
authors.forename: Birsen Karaca
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Saydam
authors.forename: Hafize O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Aytul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadimli
authors.forename: Ozlem Demirel
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Ummahan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Yeliz Cakir
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kocak
authors.forename: Zehra Baykal
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Akmese
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ceber
authors.forename: Gulsun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozenturk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult