Sexual behavior and the prevalence of cervical cancer screening use in the region of Šumadija

Sexual behavior and cervical cancer screening use

  • Vera Simic Secondary Medical School “Beograd”, Beograd, Serbia
  • Natasa Mihailovic Institute of Public Health Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
  • Snezana Radovic University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Social medicine, Kragujevac, Serbia
  • Sanja Kocic University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Social medicine, Kragujevac, Serbia
  • Svetlana R Radevic Fakultet medicinskih nauka Univerzitet u Kragujevcu
  • Ivana Simic Vukomanovic University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Social medicine, Kragujevac, Serbia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/afmnai40-42914
Keywords: women in reproductive period, sexual behavior, Pap test

Abstract


Introduction/Aim: Reproductive health and cervical cancer screeaning are public health priorities. The aim of the studu is to asses the sexual behavior and the prevalence of cervical cancer screening use in the region of Šumadija, Serbia.

Methods: The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 510 female aged 18-49 years, living on the territory of the Šumadija District. An anonymous standardised questionnaire was used as a research tool based on the research protocol entitled the World health organization, STEPwise Approach to Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS).

Results: During the first sexual intercourse, 60.1% of the surveyed population used some of the contraceptives, whereas during the last sexual intercourse 72.5% of the female respondents reported not to have been using any of these. Out of the total number of female respondents, every fifth respondent reported not having had a single Pap smear in her lifetime (22.8%). The results indicated that almost 85.0% of the female respondents aged 19-29 years (p< 0.001),  every third female respondent who had completed elementary school (28.4%) p= 0.009, and 33.3% not married had never done a Pap smear test (p= 0.01).

Conclusion: All the activities should be directed towards increasing the levels of accessibility and availability of the institutions and cervical cancer screening services provided there. In addition, resource capacities should be enhanced as well (medical staff, rooms, equipment).

 

 

Author Biography

Svetlana R Radevic, Fakultet medicinskih nauka Univerzitet u Kragujevcu

Socijalna medicina

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Published
2025/12/19
Issue
Vol. 40 No. 4 (2023): Acta facultatis medicae Naissensis
Section
Originalni rad / Original article