Perceptions of Patients and Providers of Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in Iran: a Qualitative Study

Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in developing countries. Despite the reduction in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in developed countries during the last two decades; developing countries have not been shown such changes in these two indices (Brotto et al., 2008). Although the cervical cancer incidence rate is low in Iran, nonetheless most cervical cancers are detected at advanced stages where the prognosis is poor (Arbyn et al., 2011). According to the Cancer Registry of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) in Iran, the incidence of cervical cancer has been increased between 2005-2007 (IARC, 2012). Cervical cancer screening is an essential part of a woman’s routine health care; because it can detect cancer or abnormalities that may lead to cervical cancer. A routine Pap smear screening cervical cancer can greatly reduce the mortality risks of cervical cancer (Ebu et al., 2015).Usage of the Pap smear test for cervical cancer prevention would contribute to the access of the Millennium Development Goals through universal access to sexual and reproductive health services to improve women’s health (WHO, 2015).