title: [How do Cameroonian women experience their first gynecological examination? How can the procedure be modified to improve this experience?].
abstract: The gynecological examination is a key element in the diagnosis of the most genitourinary disorders. Improving how women experience the first gynecological examination (FGE) should have a significant impact on their perception of this examination and on their general feeling about it afterwards.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to describe the general feeling of Cameroonian women towards the FGE and to identify the factors associated with negative feelings.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this one-month survey study, we asked patients to complete a questionnaire about how they had experienced the FGE. The answers have been analyzed and the factors influencing the way they experience this examination determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the FGE, 41.5% of the women had negative feelings, and 38.6% reported that the examination had been painful. The average age of women who experienced pain was younger than that of those who did not [19.4 vs 20.39 years, P = 0.029], as was that of women with negative feelings lower [19.41 vs 20.43 years, P = 0.024]. A negative experience was significantly associated with a painful examination [P≤0.001], an examiner not specialized in gynecology [P = 0.04], lack of information [P = 0.001], and lack of a separate room to undress [P = 0.038]. The rate of subsequent refusals of a gynecological examination was higher among women with a negative first experience [56.2% vs. 35.9%, P = 0.008].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FGE is experienced by Cameroonian women as very difficult. Their feelings at the end of this examination significantly influences their behavior towards gynecological examinations in general.
authors.affiliation: Maternité du centre hospitalier de Chauny, service de gynécologie et obstétrique, 94, rue des Anciens-Combattants d'AFN et TOM, 02303 Chauny, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ahounkeng Nanda
authors.affiliation: Service de gynécologie et obstétrique, hôpital gynéco-obstétrique et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Mboudou
authors.affiliation: Service de gynécologie et obstétrique, hôpital gynéco-obstétrique et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dohbit Sama
authors.affiliation: Service de gynécologie et obstétrique, hôpital gynéco-obstétrique et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foumane
authors.affiliation: Maternité principale, Hôpital central de Yaoundé, Département de gynécologie et obstétrique, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nana Njotang
authors.affiliation: Maternité principale, Hôpital central de Yaoundé, Département de gynécologie et obstétrique, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mbu Enow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002163:Cameroon; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cameroon; First gynecological examination; negative feeling; pain; positive feeling