Cervical cancer: a qualitative study on subjectivity, family, gender and health services

Blanca E Pelcastre-Villafuerte¹ , Laura L Tirado-Gómez² , Alejandro Mohar-Betancourt³ and Malaquías López-Cervantes⁴

¹Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Secretaría de Salud, México, Av, Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, C.P. 62508, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

²Departamento de Epidemiología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de México, Av. San Fernando No. 22; 2°, Piso de investigación, Col. Sección XVI., Del Tlalpan, C.P. 01480, México, D.F., México

³Dirección General, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de México, Av. San Fernando No. 22; 3er, Piso de edificio de quimioterapia, Col. Sección XVI., Del Tlalpan, C.P. 01480, México, D.F., México

⁴Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio B 3er. Piso, Del Coyoacan C.P. 04510, México, D.F., México

author email corresponding author email

Reproductive Health 2007, 4:2doi:10.1186/1742-4755-4-2


Published:	1 March 2007

Abstract

Background

In 2002, cervical cancer was one of the leading causes of death in Mexico. Quantitative techniques allowed for the identification of socioeconomic, behavioral and biological characteristics that are part of its etiology.

However such characteristics, are inadequate to explain sufficiently the role that emotions, family networks and socially-constructed categories such as gender play in the demand and utilization of health services for cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment and neither the timely undertaking of preventive actions, such as getting a PAP smear or seeking adequate and continuons treatment.

Methods

A qualitative study was carried out to analyze the role of different social and cultural factors in the timely detection of cervical cancer. As part of a multi-level, multi-method research effort, this particular study was based on individual interviews with women diagnosed with cervical cancer (identified as the "cases"), their female friends and relatives (identified as the "controls") and the cases' husbands.

Results

The results showed that both: denial and fear are two important components that regulate the behavior of both the women and their partners. Women with a small support network may have limited opportunities for taking action in favor of their own health and wellbeing.

Conclusion

Women tend not to worry about their health, in general and neither about cervical cancer in particular, as a consequence of their conceptualizations regarding their body and feminine identify – both of which are socially determined. Furthermore, it is necessary to improve the quality of information provided in health services.