Communications about cervical cancer between women and gynecologists in Serbia

Objectives: The age-standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer in Serbia is 27.2 per 100,000 women, i.e., twice as high as in western European countries. This paper explores the communication which occurs between women and gynecologists in Serbia in relation to cervical cancer screening. Methods: Our study was conducted in two phases: a qualitative phase (focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with women) and a quantitative phase (community-based survey). This paper reports the findings from both phases, and in particular, the in-depth interviews with 22 women with different socio-economic backgrounds residing in the capital city and a regional town. To illustrate women's experiences and attitudes, we used interview excerpts. Results: Our findings indicate that there is poor communication between women and gynecologists and an absence of proper counseling. Women's lack of knowledge about reproductive health issues, poor attitudes of gynecologists, and personal barriers that women experience in accessing health care render preventive practices a low priority both for women and gynecologists. Conclusions: We recommend different educational and organizational strategies that may improve the counseling skills of gynecologists and ultimately reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer in Serbia.