Table 3 Thematic division

Individual

Sociodemographic factors

Age groups

1

15

Low education

4

2,3,15,19

Single

3

2,9,17

Economic barriers

Low income

2

1,9

No health insurance

5

1,4,10,16,17

Costs

1

6

Length of stay/ immigration status

3

3,10,17

Not employed

1

19

Language barriers

Communication difficulties

8

1,3,9,10,12,15,16,19

Cognitive barriers

Lack of knowledge

6

5,7,9,10,12,14

Misunderstanding

2

7,11

Absence of symptom

5

5,10,11,12,13

Low perceived risk

6

4,5,7,9,10,16

Lack of awareness

3

6,10,13

Unfamiliar with CCS/ no information

8

2,6,9,10,12,14,16,18

Negative feeling

Embarrassment/shame

8

1,4,5,10,13,14,16,19

Fear of cancer

5

5,6,7,9,12

Uncomfortable

4

4,9,13,14

Pain

6

4,5,6,9,11,13

Too stressful

1

13

Afraid of the test/ bad news

2

9,12

Affective barriers

Ignoring CCS invitation

1

14

Influence of prior screening experiences

2

12,14

Relationship

Work and family

Lack of time because of work, childcare, and home duties

3

7,10,16

Community

Healthcare system

Sex of the physician

8

4,6,7,8,9,11,13,15

Preference for same ethnic group physician

2

6,15

Preference for Muslim providers

1

15

Having no family physician/no primary care

1

8

Distrust

5

4,7,8,9,12

The procedure

2

5,12

Location

3

3,5,16

Practical barriers/long wait times

3

5,6,9

Societal

Norm

Stigma

3

7,9,10

Muslim norms

1

4

Taboos related to female genitalia/sexuality

1

14

Female circumcision

3

9,12,14

Religion

Health problems are a punishment from God

3

3,9,15

Modesty

4

1,7,12,14

Residing in Muslim communities of smaller size

1

3

Being born in a Muslim-majority country

1

8

Becoming ill and dying is the will of Allah

6

7,9,10,11,12,15