Health Prevention: Interpretations, Definitions, Rationalities (The Case of Gynecological Prevention)

Poland belongs to European countries characterized by the highest mortality of women caused by cervical cancer - a neoplasm that is fully curable if detected early enough. It happens so despite of several, broadly designed prevention actions addressed to women, encouraging them to participate in preventive screenings. Therefore, the question arises: why do women contact the doctors so late? What is the cause of their reluctance to prevention of the life-threatening disease? The article tries to address these questions looking for the answer among structural and socio-cultural variables influencing women's approach to health and disease. The research results under discussion concern the problems of gynecological prevention among women threatened with social exclusion.