Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons^™

Perceptions Of Infertility As A Barrier To Cervical Cancer Screening In Rural Botswana: A Qualitative Study, Rebecca L. Upton

Sociology & Anthropology Faculty publications

Background: Cervical cancer screening in Botswana and in particular the use of visual screening in rural areas has been on the rise in the past several years. Despite increased awareness and the introduction of less invasive methods of screening, qualitative data indicate that socio-cultural factors such as infertility related stigma, and beliefs about impaired fecundity affect overall efficacy of screening campaigns. Objective: This study sought to explore barriers to the utilization of cervical cancer screening in rural communities in northern Botswana. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted in this qualitative research study. All interviews were transcribed and coded both manually as …