Asian Pacifc Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol 15, 2014 905 DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.2.905 Women’s Perceptions and Attitudes about Cervical Cancer in Turkey: Kato’s Device as an Alternative to Pap Smear Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15 (2), 905-910 Introduction Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women, and the seventh overall, with an estimated 530,000 new cases in 2008. More than 85% of the global burden occurs in developing countries, where it accounts for 13% of all female cancers. Overall, the mortality: incidence ratio is 52%, and cervical cancer is responsible for 275,000 deaths in 2008, about 88% of which occur in developing countries: 53,000 in Africa; 31,700 in Latin America and the Caribbean; and 159,800 in Asia. The incidence of cervical cancer is estimated to be 4.2/100.000 in Turkey according to the data from Globocan, 2008. Based on these data, 1443 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008 in Turkey, with almost 556 women dying of cervical cancer within the same year (IARC, 2013). The risk factors known to increase the incidence of cervical cancer are early marriage (child marriage) and sexual practice, delivery of the frst baby before the age of 20, too many or too frequent childbirths, multiple Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey *For correspondence: fyaris@ omu.edu.tr Abstract Aims: To determine the status of women’s perception and attitudes about cervical cancer and their thoughts on Kato’s self-sampling device. Materials and Methods: This descriptive research was conducted between July- December 2012 with a study populationof married women older than 18 years. Results: A total of 246 women volunteered, with a mean age of 34.9±9.22 (19-52). In the last year, 52.0% had been examined by a gynecologist to address a complaint or for a periodic health check. Of the 118 who had not had a gynecological examination, 42.4% indicated negligence, 26.3% stated the reason was no complaint, 14.4% feared they might receive bad results from the examination, and 8.5% stated that were shy or embarrassed. Of all of the women, 35.0% answered that they had information about cervical cancer, and 0.7% had heard about the HPV vaccine. No one in their families had received the vaccine. Of the women, 28.5% had had a Pap smear, and 71.4% of those had normal results. Of those who had never had a Pap smear, 47.2% had never heard about the test; 18.8% explained the reason for not having a test as shyness or embarrassment with a male doctor. None of the women had heard about Kato’s device. Once the women were informed, 73.6% expresseed interest in use; 51.9% answered they could use it and not be embarrassed, 30.9% would use it because they did not have to see a doctor, and 17.1% would use it as it allows them to take a smear in all conditions and whenever they want. Of the women, 60.0% thought that they could not successfully use Kato’s device; 40.0% thought that a smear should be taken by a doctor. Conclusions: Most of the women in our population had never had a Pap smear and wanted to use the Kato’s device Keywords: Cervical cancer - Pap smear - Kato’s device - perception RESEARCH ARTICLE Women’s Perceptions and Attitudes about Cervical Cancer in Turkey: Kato’s Device as an Alternative to the Pap Smear Mustafa Kursat Sahin, Gulay Sahin, Mustafa Fevzi Dikici, Fusun Artiran Igde, Fusun Yaris* sexual partners, poor personal hygiene practice, low socio-economic status, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Herpes Simplex Virus type II, HIV positivity, use of oral contraceptive pill, and smoking. (Raychaudhuri et al, 2012). Most cervical lesions do not progress to cancer, and those which do, progress slowly, making cervical cancer largely preventable through effective screening (Tran et al., 2011). The Pap smear test, developed by Papanicolau and Trout, is a very notable screening method for not only being cheap and easy-to-use, but also for being easily applicable to and accepted by different target populations in the community screenings, with a resulting noteworthy decrease of deaths from cervical cancer (Chew, et al., 2004). Low coverage rate for Pap smear test is one important factor for the outcome of the screening program not only in the normal population but also among health personnel (Pengsaa, et al., 1989 ; Kritpetcharat, et al., 2003). Those who do not cooperate and comply when adviced to take the test often state that shyness is one reason for not