Abstract
The influential factors for undergoing cervical cancer screening were elucidated by a focus interview on 62 females divided into 3 groups ; 20-year-old university students, mothers having elementary-school children and working women. The screening rate within the past 2 years in the mothers, working women and students was 90.5%, 66.7% and 0%, respectively. Use of the local resident health-check program was dominant, and the triggers were "age" and "notification from the local government". The influential factors were summarized into 8 categories ; "lack of information/knowledge on the necessity", "hesitation due to the methodology", "reciprocal influences on undergoing the screening", "inconvenient accessability to the screening", "dissatisfaction with the screening environment", "lack of motivation", "sense of ease because of mass-screening" and "insufficient education". Among these, the screening-enhancing factors were epitomized by "sense of ease that many undergo it", and supported by "sense of solidity" and "mass-screening and use of health-screening van requiring less waiting time". Even women who underwent the screening knew the purpose insufficiently, complained about the screening environment and distrusted doctor's skill because of pains and/or bleedings. The students seemed to have less educational opportunity for preventing cervical cancer. As physical facilitating factor, screening on Saturdays, Sundays and at night was expected.
