Rates and independent correlates of Pap smear testing among Korean-American women.
OBJECTIVE
This study reports population estimates of Pap smear testing among Korean-American women and evaluates correlates of testing.


METHODS
Korean Americans in 2 California counties were surveyed by telephone. Frequencies were age-adjusted to the 1990 census to produce population estimates of testing. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate independent correlates of testing


RESULTS
Only 50% of the Korean-American women surveyed had a Pap test in the previous 2 years. The strongest independent correlate was having had a regular check-up in the previous 2 years (odds ratio 7.2, 95% confidence interval 4.2, 12.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of Pap testing among Korean-American women are well below national objectives. Collaboration and community-sensitive research are essential to collect data and design programs to improve the health of ethnic minority communities.
Wismer
B A
BA
Center for Family and Community Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Moskowitz
J M
JM
Chen
A M
AM
Kang
S H
SH
Novotny
T E
TE
Min
K
K
Lew
R
R
Tager
I B
IB
D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*