Creencias sobre papanicolaou y cáncer cérvicouterino en un grupo de mujeres chilenas

Background: Many reasons has been described about relation between beliefs and cervical cancer behaviors. Objective: To describe the beliefs about cervical cancer and Pap test in a group of chilean women. Method: Cross sectional and analytic study was done with 333 chilean women. Beliefs about cervical cancer and Pap test was studied with the CPC-28 questionnaire, developed and validated in Chilean population. Results: 96% have had a Pap test in the last 3 years. Family history about cervical cancer was reported by 49.8% as a cause of cervical cancer. The principal barrier to Pap test was lack of knowledge about the age. The principal cue to action was the doctor recommendation. The benefit was the care of health. The sexual intercourse was reported by 14.1% as necessary to take a Pap test. The risk to develop cervical cancer is reported by 17.4%. The six dimensions studied were correlated between them. Conclusion: The beliefs must be considered to education programs, firstly understanding and then modifying them.