Smoking and cervical cancer: A qualitative study of the explanatory models of smokers with cervical abnormalities

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Abstract
Smoking doubles the risk of cervical abnormalities and, amongst women with low-grade cervical disease, stopping smoking leads to regression of the lesion. Interviews with 15 smokers and 21 non-smokers with cervical abnormalities revealed a moderate level of awareness of the link between smoking and cervical abnormalities, but minimal awareness of the beneficial effects for cervical health of stopping smoking. Even in women who were aware of a link, most lacked an explanatory model for how smoking adversely affects the cervix. Providing a coherent model for this is probably a necessary first step for women who smoke to accept information about the adverse effects of smoking on cervical health.