| dc.description.abstract | Background. Cervical cancer remains a major women’s health issue. Pap
smear/screening tests are recommended for early detection, but uptake is shaped by women’s knowledge and attitudes. Objective. To describe knowledge levels and attitudes toward the role of Pap smear screening among women of reproductive age (WRA) at UPT Puskesmas Tuntungan, Medan.
Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study of 55 WRA recruited by consecutive sampling. Standardized questionnaires assessed knowledge and attitudes; univariate analyses (frequencies–percentages) and cross-tabulations by age, education, employment, and income were performed. Results. Most respondents were aged 27–38 years, tertiary-educated, and employed. Knowledge was predominantly adequate (65.5%), followed by poor
(21.8%) and good (12.7%). Attitudes were almost evenly split: supportive 49.1% vs non-supportive 50.9%. By age, the 39–49 group showed the highest support (63.2%); the youngest group showed the lowest. By education, tertiary graduates
were more supportive (56.7%) than senior-high (36.4%). By employment, non-working women were more supportive (57.7%) than working women (41.4%). By income, no linear pattern emerged; the high-income group (≥Rp2.5–3.5 million/month) had relatively more non-supportive attitudes (58.8%).
Conclusion. WRA’s knowledge about the role of Pap smear is generally adequate, while attitudes remain evenly divided. Standardized technical education (purpose,
preparation, intervals, and limitations) and segment-specific promotion (younger age groups, employed women, and across income strata) are needed to shift knowledge to good and strengthen supportive attitudes, thereby increasing screening uptake. | en_US |
