Cervical Cancer Screening: Attitudes and Behaviors of Young Asian American Women

Abstract

Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese American women experience high incidence rates of cervical cancer but low rates of cervical cancer screenings. This study examines the behaviors and attitudes towards screening in young Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese American women (n=304) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Results indicated Vietnamese American (OR=2.51) and Filipino American (OR=2.31) women had greater odds of ever having a Pap test than Korean American women. Those older (OR=1.55), born in the USA (OR=2.64), and those comfortable with the test (OR=3.41) also had greater odds of ever having a Pap test. Correct knowledge of cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus did not significantly affect the odds of having a Pap test. Interventions to increase Pap testing in these populations should focus on increasing levels of comfort and should target those younger and foreign born.

Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention in Young Korean Immigrant Women: Implications for Intervention Development

“…Furthermore, participants believed that women's clinics were for married women only. Similarly, studies with Asian immigrant women have found cultural values to be barriers to Pap tests (Gor et al, 2011;Mo, 1992;Tang et al, 1999;Yoo, Le, Vong, Lagman, & Lam, 2011). For example, young Asian immigrant women think that seeking gynecological examinations prior to marriage implies that they are engaging in premarital sexual intercourse, which is unacceptable in their culture (Gor et al, 2011).…”

Cervical Cancer Screening Experiences Among Chinese American Immigrant Women in the United States

“…In a survey of Chinese immigrants in Rhode Island, more than 25% of participants never had Pap tests or did not know if they had ever had the test (Robison et al, 2014). Because of limited awareness of HPV and knowledge about the necessity of cervical cancer screening, education and an invitation from a health care provider were the most effective ways to increase cervical cancer screening (Everett et al, 2011; Seo, Bae, & Dickerson, 2016; Yoo, Le, Vong, Lagman, & Lam, 2011).…”

mHealth Pilot Study: Text Messaging Intervention to Promote HPV Vaccination

“…9,34–37 The current study focused specifically on Korean-American women, a population with one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates across all racial/ethnic groups; incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer are twice as high for Korean-American women as those for non-Latina White women. 38–40 …”