Graduation Semester and Year
2017
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Katherine Sanchez
Abstract
Due to many factors, women in substance abuse treatment are at high risk of contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV) and developing cervical cancer. Despite this, the likelihood of accessing preventative healthcare, such as a Pap exam, is low. Substance abuse treatment facilities may be suitable access points for preventative cervical cancer screening. Using secondary focus group data, this qualitative narrative analysis examines answers given by women in substance abuse treatment regarding knowledge, experiences, barriers, and facilitators to Pap exams. The purpose of this analysis was to further understand how this population views Pap smears in order to guide best practices for increasing access to cervical cancer screening. Analysis revealed participants’ awareness of their own lack of gynecological health knowledge, a desire for gynecological health information, fear and mistrust of the medical system, and uncertainty regarding gynecological procedures. If done in a trauma-informed way, offering gynecological health education and Pap smears to women in substance abuse treatment could be one way of improving access in this population.
Keywords
Substance abuse, Cervical cancer
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Prykhodko, Amberly R., "“In a Way It’s a Violation”: Pap Smear Knowledge and Beliefs Among Underserved Women in Substance Abuse Treatment" (2017). Social Work Theses. 158.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_theses/158
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington