[How do Cameroonian women experience their first gynecological examination? How can the procedure be modified to improve this experience?]. / Le vécu du premier examen gynécologique en milieu africain : cas du Cameroun Quels ajustements apporter à son déroulement pour un meilleur vécu ?
Med Sante Trop
; 24(2): 165-8, 2014.
Article
in Fr
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24876168
ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED The gynecological examination is a key element in the diagnosis of the most genitourinary disorders. Improving how women experience the first gynecological examination (FGE) should have a significant impact on their perception of this examination and on their general feeling about it afterwards. OBJECTIVE:
The aim of our study was to describe the general feeling of Cameroonian women towards the FGE and to identify the factors associated with negative feelings.METHODOLOGY:
In this one-month survey study, we asked patients to complete a questionnaire about how they had experienced the FGE. The answers have been analyzed and the factors influencing the way they experience this examination determined.RESULTS:
At the end of the FGE, 41.5% of the women had negative feelings, and 38.6% reported that the examination had been painful. The average age of women who experienced pain was younger than that of those who did not [19.4 vs 20.39 years, P = 0.029], as was that of women with negative feelings lower [19.41 vs 20.43 years, P = 0.024]. A negative experience was significantly associated with a painful examination [P≤0.001], an examiner not specialized in gynecology [P = 0.04], lack of information [P = 0.001], and lack of a separate room to undress [P = 0.038]. The rate of subsequent refusals of a gynecological examination was higher among women with a negative first experience [56.2% vs. 35.9%, P = 0.008].CONCLUSION:
The FGE is experienced by Cameroonian women as very difficult. Their feelings at the end of this examination significantly influences their behavior towards gynecological examinations in general.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Attitude to Health
/
Gynecological Examination
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
Fr
Journal:
Med Sante Trop
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France