No abstract

Our results confirm that Vietnamese women have lower levels of cervical cancer screening than non-Latina white women. Intervention programs addressing Pap testing in Vietnamese communities should recognize women's traditional beliefs while encouraging them to adopt biomedical preventive measures into their daily lives.

Refugee women are at increased risk for cervical cancer and have low rates of cervical cancer screening both in their countries of origin and in the U.S. Using the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations as a conceptual framework, we conducted eight focus groups with Burmese and Bhutanese refugee women to gather information about factors influencing cervical cancer screening (31 Burmese and 27 Bhutanese participants). Less than one-third (28%) reported being screened for cervical cancer before coming to the U.S. and only 45% reported being screened after resettling in the U.S. Participants had limited knowledge about cervical cancer and the need for screening, and faced multiple barriers including competing priorities and cost. However, trusted providers and interpreters were seen as means of facilitating screening. Cervical cancer screening among Bhutanese and Burmese refugee women could be improved with culturally tailored health education and increased access to female providers and trained interpreters.