title: Structural and sociocultural factors associated with cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected African American women in Alabama.
abstract: African American women have disproportionately high prevalence rates of HIV and cervical cancer. HIV-infected women are significantly less likely to obtain recommended cervical cancer screenings than HIV-uninfected women. The purpose of this study was to examine sociocultural and structural factors associated with cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected African American in Alabama. The PEN-3 Model and the Health Belief Model were used as theoretical frameworks. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty HIV-infected African American women to identify perceptions, enablers, and nurturers, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits related to cervical cancer and screening. The most common positive perceptions, enablers, and nurturers that contributed to cervical cancer screening included internal motivation and awareness of the importance of HIV-infected women getting Pap tests due to their weakened immune system. Negative perceptions, enablers, and nurturers included lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and screening, and lack of perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer. The results of this study can be used to guide the development of culturally relevant cervical cancer and screening education interventions aimed at increasing cervical cancer screening adherence among HIV-infected African American women.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moneyham
authors.forename: Mirjam-Colette
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chamot
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scarinci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000407:Alabama; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data