The smear test under the point of view of the woman who has experienced it in her life

Abstract

This research is the result of my experience with women in cervical cancer prevention at the Gynecology and Obstetrics National Health Clinic of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. I tried to understand what it means to women who are submitted to a smear test. To achieve this, I have used a qualitative research, in a phenomenological approach. I gathered the data from interviews about the main subject. The analysis of those eleven interviews have helped me to build three analytical categories that are the located structure of the phenomenon, as follows: A- The preventive cervical cancer examination: a woman as a human being conscious of the world; B- Facing the smear test: manifestation of the existence; C- Working with the health professional during the examination: as interfaces of the attendance.