Experiences in the health care of women with cytological abnormalities or cervix cancer in two border departments: A struggle between life and the Colombian health system

Objective:Todescribethehealthcareexperienceofwomenwith cytological abnormalities with negative biopsy for malignancy or invasive cervix cancer within two months after diagnosis, in La Guajira and Nariño departments, Colombia, between 2016 and 2017. Methodology: The qualitative component of a mixed methods study of convergent triangulation is presented, through ten interviews and three focus groups. Nine women with cancer and six women with cytological abnormalities between 43 and 65 years of age participated; six of them were indigenous, and fourteen are enrolled to the subsidized health regime. Results: Participants referred negative experiences in the health care system as they face numerous barriers for the diagnosis and access to treatment. Such as, delay in the assignment and authorization of medical appointments, tests, and procedures; the out-of-pocket expenses for transportation to capital cities where the health service is provided; difficulties to find family support outside their communities of origin, and language barriers among women from indigenous communities. Besides, effective communication problems with health personnel were also presented, which lead some participants to misunderstanding their diagnosis or treatment and feeling that they were not being heard. The experience of having cancer led to suffering, rejection from people in their social environment, and depersonalization. Conclusions: Barriers of various kinds for the timely access to treatment are exacerbated by baseline characteristics such as poverty and belonging to ethnic groups, turning survival into a daily struggle, which goes beyond the specific characteristics of the disease itself.