Migrant women's perception toward cervical and breast cancer screening in Türkiye: a qualitative analysis

Altaş, Zeynep Meva; Sezerol, Mehmet Akif

Migrant women's perception toward cervical and breast cancer screening in Türkiye: a qualitative analysis

dc.contributor.author	Altaş, Zeynep Meva
dc.contributor.author	Sezerol, Mehmet Akif
dc.date.accessioned	2026-04-16T09:35:32Z
dc.date.available	2026-04-16T09:35:32Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.department	İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Halk Sağlığı Ana Bilim Dalı
dc.department	İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Dahili Tıp Bilimleri Bölümü, Halk Sağlığı Ana Bilim Dalı
dc.department	İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi, Uluslararası Tıp Fakültesi, Dahili Tıp Bilimleri Bölümü, Halk Sağlığı Ana Bilim Dalı
dc.description.abstract	Introduction: This study aims to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Syrian migrant women regarding breast and cervical cancer screenings in the Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul. Methods: The women were recruited from Extended Migrant Health Centre, which is a primary health care institution in Istanbul. In August 2024, face-to-face interviews were conducted using an open-ended, semi-structured question form administered by a nurse experienced in qualitative research. Sociodemographic information, their thoughts on cancer, information on the types of cancers screened and sources of information, their participation in cancer screenings, and their perspectives on cancer screenings were asked. Results: In depth interviews were conducted with 40 migrant women. Four main themes and thirteen sub-themes were identified. These themes include “Opinions about the cancers and information about the cancer screenings” “Attitudes about the cancer screening program” “Perspectives on preventive measures against cancers” and “Problems in access to health services”. Women mostly described cancer as a serious, incurable, and fatal disease. Despite this perception, almost half of the participants had not attended cancer screening programs. The majority said they did not undergo screening because they had no symptoms. The other main barriers for participation included lack of knowledge, fear of receiving a negative result, or fear of the procedures involved. Conclusions: Based on this study, migrant women have low level of attendance to breast and cervical cancer screening programs. Besides, they lack adequate information about breast cancer and cervical cancer, the screening protocols and preventive measuremets.
dc.identifier.citation	Altaş, Z. M. ve Sezerol, M. A. (2025). Migrant women's perception toward cervical and breast cancer screening in Türkiye: a qualitative analysis. BMC Public Health, 25(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21425-z
dc.identifier.doi	10.1186/s12889-025-21425-z
dc.identifier.issn	1471-2458
dc.identifier.issue	1
dc.identifier.pmid	39825324
dc.identifier.scopus	2-s2.0-85216216159
dc.identifier.scopusquality	Q1
dc.identifier.uri	http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21425-z
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12511/13435
dc.identifier.volume	25
dc.identifier.wos	WOS:001399007200001
dc.identifier.wosquality	Q1
dc.indekslendigikaynak	Web of Science
dc.indekslendigikaynak	Scopus
dc.indekslendigikaynak	PubMed
dc.institutionauthor	Altaş, Zeynep Meva
dc.institutionauthor	Sezerol, Mehmet Akif
dc.institutionauthorid	0000-0003-0475-8946
dc.language.iso	en
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Public Health
dc.relation.publicationcategory	Makale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subject	Barriers
dc.subject	Cancer Screening
dc.subject	Migrants
dc.subject	Women
dc.title	Migrant women's perception toward cervical and breast cancer screening in Türkiye: a qualitative analysis
dc.type	Article