Journal of Clinical Oncology & Advanced Therapy

Abstract

The objective of the research was to explore the perceptions and attitudes demonstrated by women of childbearing age diagnosed with Human Papillomavirus, during the year 2024. This research is a qualitative, phenomenological, and cross-sectional study aimed at exploring the perceptions and attitudes of women. To this end, an in-depth structured interview was conducted with five women receiving care at the Hospital's Comprehensive Care Program. The instrument was previously field-tested to validate its effectiveness. It was identified that women have knowledge about the human papillomavirus disease, but experience feelings, attitudes, and emotions of sadness, depression, anguish, anxiety, fear, guilt, dread, anger, isolation, worry, and concern when they are diagnosed with HPV, due to the possibility of imminent death if they develop cervical cancer, societal prejudices, and the changes they face in their daily and sexual lives. The women interviewed began their sexual lives around age 20, and most practiced the Evangelical faith. They experienced sadness and fear, guilt and shame, as well as fear of developing cervical cancer and the possibility of imminent death. They faced substantial changes in their daily lives and marital or partner relationships, expressing a degree of mutual isolation due to doubts about their partner's fidelity and feelings of disappointment.