title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Asian American Studies Department, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132-4252, USA. gracey@sfsu.edu
authors.forename: Grace J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Mai Nhung
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vong
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagman
authors.forename: Amy G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult