Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore if cervical cancer information presented in a non-
stigmatizing manner could promote screening in women living in a resource poor environment in
Tshwane, South Africa.
Methods: An exploratory, contextual, quantitative door-to-door survey was conducted. The sampling
method was convenience (n ¼ 105). Structured interviews were used to gather self-reported data. Chi-
square tests were used for secondary data analyses.
Results: The study provided evidence that presenting information on cervical cancer in a non-stigma-
tizing manner based on the theme of self protection promoted cervical screening. The study further
provided evidence that women preferred a cervical cancer message that does not focus on the sexual risk
factors of this disease. More than a third of the sample preferring a message introducing cervical cancer
as a sexually transmitted infection (n ¼ 32) were of the opinion that this message were stigmatizing,
blameful and displayed misunderstanding of their lives.
Conclusions: Cervical cancer screening is indeed not simple. The screening rate not only in South Africa
but many other countries serves as proof. It can therefore not be afforded to add to the barriers by
presenting information on cervical cancer in a way perceived as stigmatizing and blameful. Presenting
information in way that women prefer might not only promote cervical screening, but might motivate
them in such a way that they are screened.