Table 3 Health Belief Model as applied to cervical cancer screening

Perceived barriers

Lack of time to get screened for cervical cancer

Fear of procedure/diagnosis of cervical cancer

Low priority

Embarrassment at being examined by a physician

Lack of information regarding cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening procedures

Lack of health insurance to cover cervical cancer screening

Having a male examiner*

Low priority for screening

Embarrassment

Screened women:

Lack of time

Lack of health insurance

Unscreened women:

Fear

Lack of information

Cues to action

Outside personal influences (family, friends, partners)

Previous pregnancy

Presenting with unusual gynecological symptoms

Family encouragement

Presenting with gynecological symptoms

Screened women:

Pregnancy

Perceived self-efficacy

Yearly gynecological care routine

Personal responsibility

Personal responsibility

Screened women:

Yearly gynecological routine

Perceived susceptibility

Recognizing risk factors of cervical cancer

Recognized the risk factors for cervical cancer

Screened women:

Higher risk of contracting HPV or cervical cancer if they engaged in risky behaviors

Unscreened women:

would not refer to their own susceptibility but would refer to their friends’ or family’s

Perceived severity

Death due to cancer/cervical cancer

Toll of cancer/cervical cancer on family

Physical side-effects of cancer/cervical cancer

Recognized the toll that cancer has on the family and the severity of cervical cancer

We did not find any discordant themes

Perceived benefits

Valuing one’s health

Preventing cervical cancer

To be informed about health and well-being

To be healthy and live longer*

To encourage self-care*

Recognized overall benefits to getting screened for cervical cancer

Screened women:

Valuing one’s health

Unscreened women:

Prevention

Encouraging self-care