Knowledge about and utilization of facilities for cervical smears among black women in Johannesburg

Cancer of the cervix is the most common cause of death from carcinoma among Black South African women. Mortality from this disease can be reduced by screening using the cervical smear. To determine the knowledge about and utilization of facilities for cervical smears among Black women in Johannesburg, 89 women were interviewed at Baragwanath Hospital. Only 4 of these had heard of or had had a cervical smear. This indicates that education about cervical carcinoma and cervical smears needs to be more extensive.