A survey of the knowledge about PAP smears among women aged 15 and above

Objective: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of pap smear among a group of women and assess the relationship between some possible risk factors and pap smear knowledge status. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. We interviewed 1972 women in their houses in a quarter of a city in western Turkey, who agreed to participate in the study. Factors related to history of having a Pap smear and knowledge level and willingness to participate in a screening program were evaluated using a questionnaire. The questionnaire forms were filled by a face to face method. The student s t test and the chi square (x2) test were used for statistical analysis.Results: Twenty one point four percent of women had a pap smear at least once in their lives (422/1972). The rate of those having knowledge about pap smear was 42.4% (n=836/1972). In this study, the prevalence of the women having pap smear test was lower in the women who didn t know pap smear test than the women who knew pap smear test (p 0.05). Conclusion: Study results showed that prevalence of the women having pap smear test, and the prevalence of the women who did not know pap smear test are low, but is compatible with the literature