About 60 per cent of Moldova's women never make test to prevent cervical cancer

Chisinau, 28 November /MOLDPRES/ - About 60 per cent of the women from Moldova, who should make the cervical cancer prevention test, has never made such a medical examination. Data to this effect is contained in the first national study on the knowledge, attitudes and practices in the field of prevention of cervical cancer, launched in Chisinau today.   

According to the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry, the cervical screening must be made by women with ages between 25 and 61 years, once in three years. The study shows that only one fourth of the women of this age know about the possibility to carry out the cytological test in Moldova and less than a half of them know that the test can be made for free. The survey’s data shows that most women who failed to make the test are from southern Moldova, as well as from socially vulnerable families.   

The research also shows that women want to be informed by the family physician or gynecologist about the need to carry out the test. At the same time, 76 per cent of the women who made the cytological test did it at a suggestion by the medical staff and only 22 per cent – at their own initiative. Also, 18 per cent of the women said they had taken knowledge about the carrying out of the screening from the media.   

Asked about the barriers which would hinder them to make the test, most women invoked the lack of time, fear, as well as they do not know where they should appeal to carry out the examination. At the same time, most women would prefer to be invited to the test by phone call or at a visit to the family physician.

„The cervical cancer is one of the few oncological diseases which can be prevented by carrying the screening test Papanicolau, which is absolutely free of charge for all women. We will initiate a comprehensive campaign of communication and informing the population, specially women, together with development partners, international organization, central, local public authorities, civil society, mass media and all medical employees, in order to raise the awareness of the society about the importance to prevent this disease by carrying out the control at the physician regularly,” Health, Labour and Social Protection Minister Silvia Radu said.      

The opinion poll was conducted on a sample of 1,226 women in the autumn of 2018.  

According to physicians, the cervical cancer can be prevented only through cervical screening. In Moldova, this screening can be made free of charge. According to data unveiled by the ministry, more than 300 new cases of cervical cancer are annually detected in Moldova and one Moldovan woman dies of this disease every three days.