Chinese American women have high rates of invasive cervical cancer and low levels of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing use. This study examined cervical cancer screening barriers and facilitators among Chinese women. A community-based, in-person survey was conducted in Seattle during 1999. The total estimated response rate was 64% and the cooperation rate was 72%. Four hundred and thirty-two Chinese women in the 20-79 age-group were included in this analysis. Nineteen percent of the respondents had never received cervical cancer screening and 36% percent had not been screened in the previous two years. Eight characteristics were independently associated with a history of at least one Pap smear: being married, thinking Pap testing is necessary for sexually inactive women, having concerns about embarrassment or cancer being discovered, having received a physician or family recommendation, having obtained family planning services in North America, and having a female provider. The following characteristics were independently associated with recent screening: thinking Pap testing is necessary for sexually inactive women, having concern about embarrassment, having received a physician recommendation, having obtained obstetric services in North America, and having a female provider. Pap testing levels among the study respondents were well below the National Cancer Institute's Year 2000 goals. The findings suggest that cancer control interventions for ethnic Chinese women are more likely to be effective if they address multiple barriers and facilitators. Results also indicate that efforts to increase Pap testing rates among Chinese should target the health care providers who serve Asian communities.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe cervical cancer screening rates among Chinese Americans. 2. List Pap testing barriers and facilitators of relevance to Chinese American women.
Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander Women, Cancer Screening
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.