title: Chinese female immigrants english-speaking ability and breast and cervical cancer early detection practices in the New York metropolitan area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast and cervical cancers are significant causes of mortality and morbidity for Asian women, and poor English-speaking ability is a barrier to cancer prevention practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  This project tested relationships among English-speaking ability and early detection practices regarding to breast and cervical cancer among female Chinese immigrants. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  175 female Chinese immigrants completed the survey in the breast cancer prevention section, and 35 of them also completed the cervical cancer prevention section. Some 63% of them had heard about the clinical breast exam (CBE), but only 54% had had a CBE. While 46% of the participants were aware of their need for a Pap smear, only 31% had heard about it and had undergone a pelvic exam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  English-speaking ability was strongly associated with immigrant women's knowledge of female cancer early detection. Culturally and linguistic issues should be considered as the first step to access immigrant population in designing future education intervention.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing , Yale University, CT, USA. wei-ti.chen@yale.edu
authors.forename: Wei-Ti
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult