| Culture and modesty |
1. Pap smear we don't see their importance because as a Somali woman – not only Somali woman, as a Muslim woman, we are not that much of active when it comes to sexuality. |
| 2. Even if she wanted to herself and she didn't care, she would be worried more about what the community feels about what she's doing rather than what is good for her |
| Perception for unmarried, young and older women |
3. It would say 60 and over, they would think what the point is, I'm already 60 and over and in my dying stage. So they just focus on spirituality and doing whatever they can to be comfortable.” |
| 4. Because they think the minute you ask them to have the Pap smear, they think, “You are having sex. So then go and check yourself.” That's their interpretation of the Pap smear. |
| Stigma of cancer |
5. It's looked down as like it's punishment or something like that. Many people think it's kind of like HIV/AIDS |
