Meaning of Cervical Cancer Screening to Women

The crucial role played by cervical cancer screening (CCS) in women's health, originated a qualitative, cross-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study aiming to understand what cervical cancer screening and nursing interventions carried out during medical appointments really mean to women. The sample consisted of female users of a healthcare unit, among which 20 women who had missed their cervical cancer screening sessions were contacted and selected. The semi-structured interview was the instrument selected to collect data. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis techniques, with semantic categorization, and an inductive approach using version 11 of the NVivo program. Data analysis gave rise to a set of arguments that shed some light on why women choose not to attend CCS sessions and on which nursing interventions conducted in those CCS sessions are really meaningful to them. This research was useful to increase understanding and provide room for a reorientation of nurses' professional practices that will help create optimal conditions for the promotion of CCS adherence and for the health care and welfare of women, families and the community as a whole.