EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF SEXUAL-BEHAVIORAL PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS FOR CERVICAL-CANCER

Consistent causal and risk factors for cervical cancer indicate that p rimary prevention may be beneficial for cervical cancer prevention. Ho wever, social or behavioural primary prevention strategies are seldom discussed in the prevention literature. This paper uses thematic analy ses of interviews with key informants involved with cervical cancer pr evention policy development in New Zealand to explore the possibility of sexual-behavioural primary prevention. While many informants percei ved primary prevention to be important, others were cautiously accepti ng or opposed to it. Many concerns were raised that highlighting a pre ventable (sexually transmitted) causal factor might lead to blame and stigma around cervical cancer and reduce participation in cervical scr eening. Much of the support for primary prevention depended on it bein g conducted (indirectly) in the context of young people's sexual healt h education. Positions on primary prevention appeared to be informed b y common presumptions about what happens in the 'real world' and the c ommonality of human papilloma virus in the general population. We cont end that the possible health benefits from sexual-behavioural strategi cs for cervical cancer primary prevention need further exploration.