Perception of illness and the use of health care givers among cervical cancer patients at Songkla Nagarind Hospital. A study in southern Thailand.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in Thailand. It also has been observed that women who suffered from the illness seek care from various types of care givers including doctors, herbalists, and spiritual mediums. This article has two major aims. The first aim is to describe the types of healers from whom women seek care. The second aim is to explain women's perception of the illness regarding etiology, time and onset of symptoms, pathophysiology, course of illness, and treatment. One hundred and twenty women who sought treatment at Songkla Nagarind Hospital, a teaching hospital in southern Thailand, were interviewed. An interview schedule that consisted of both open-ended and close-ended questions was designed and used in the in-depth interview. Results showed that most women who suffered from cervical cancer illness at the hospital were from low socioeconomic levels. Approximately 50% of the women received care from both western-trained care givers and other types of care givers such as those who were traditionally trained and themselves. The number of care givers ranged from one to eight persons. The average number of care givers was four per woman. The initial symptom for the women in the study was abnormal vaginal discharge. The cervical cancer caused physical and psychological problems. Seventy percent of the women recognized they would die if the illness was not treated. Most women had a positive attitude about the illness if they were treated. About 80% perceived that they would be cured regardless of the method of treatment used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)