Abstract PO-261: Barriers to Pap smear screening among medical students in Yemen: A qualitative study

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the barriers to Pap smear screening among medical students in Yemen. Methodology: This study was conducted among forty one medical students. Ten female and 31 male. Four focus groups discussions participated in this study, one female group discussion and 3 male group’s discussions. The obtained data were sorted into categories based on content analysis and data were analyzed manually. Results: Total number of 41 medical students participated in this qualitative study. The majority of the participants were male and in their 22 years of age. All groups reported that the lack of awareness is the main barrier to Pap smear screening. The conservative culture and traditions of the people, shameful of the doing pap testing despite the gender of healthcare workers, not trusting the health care workers, man has the final decision for his wife to do the Pap smear screening, fear of the disease, fear of the complications of the test were considered the main barriers of Pap smear testing. All groups were willing to suggest this test to their families and friends to prevent and treat the disease as early as possible. All groups agreed that the gender of the healthcare workers is matter and definitely will affect the women decision to do the Pap smear screening. All girls preferred to be examined by female. All the groups mentioned that the advantages of Pap smear screening is to diagnose and treat the disease early. All groups mentioned that personal hygiene of the private parts is the most important prevention measures for cervical cancer. Conclusion: Lack of awareness is the main barrier to Pap smear screening. Gender of the healthcare workers greatly affect the women decision to do the Pap smear screening and all female medical students preferred to be examined by female. Therefore raising awareness among the general population is urgently needed considering the culture of the Yemeni people.

Citation Format: Redhwan Al-Naggar. Barriers to Pap smear screening among medical students in Yemen: A qualitative study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-261.