Cervical cancer screening among Cambodian-American women

Southeast Asian women have higher invasive cervical cancer incidence rates and lower Pap testing frequencies than most other racial/ethnic groups in t he United States. However, there is little information about the cervical c ancer screening behavior of Cambodian-American women. Cambodian residents o f Seattle were surveyed in person during late 1997 and early 1998, The PREC EDE model was used to guide the development of items that assessed predispo sing, reinforcing, and enabling factors associated with cervical cancer scr eening participation. The estimated overall survey response was 72%, Four h undred thirteen women completed our questionnaire. Approximately one-quarte r (24%) of the respondents had never had a Pap test, and over one-half (53% ) had not been screened recently. The following variables were positively a ssociated with a history of at least one Pap smear: younger age, greater nu mber of years since immigration, belief about Pap testing for postmenopausa l women, prenatal care in the United States, and physician recommendation. Women who believed in karma were less likely to have ever been screened for cervical cancer than those who did not. Six variables independently predic ted recent screening: age; beliefs about regular checkups, cervical cancer screening for sexually inactive women, and the prolongation of life; having a female doctor; and a previous physician recommendation for Pap testing. The study findings indicate that culturally specific approaches might be ef fective in modifying the cervical cancer screening behavior of immigrant wo men, Programs targeting Cambodian-Americans are likely to be more effective if they are multifaceted and simultaneously address predisposing, reinforc ing, and enabling factors.