Beliefs and behaviors about Pap and breast self-examination among Thai immigrant women in Brisbane, Australia

Regular screening is an important preventive method in reducing morbidity a nd mortality from cervical and breast cancer. In 1998, a cross-sectional st udy was conducted in Brisbane, Australia, among 145 Thai immigrant women, t o explore cultural and social factors related to their use of Pap smear tes ts and breast self-examination (BSE). The study aimed at describing women's beliefs and perceptions about the body, breast and cervical cancer, and th eir perceptions of the causes of the diseases. It explored the women's perc eption of the severity and the effects of both cancers on aspects of patien ts' lives, and their chance of developing both cancers. The Thai immigrant women explained the causes of breast and cervical cancer using both traditi onal beliefs and medical knowledge. They perceived that both cancers affect a patient's health and her daily activities. Some women believed that they would develop cervical cancer if their perineurn or vulva was "dirty." Som e believed that they would have breast cancer because they had a history of benign tumor or cyst of a breast. Forty-four percent of the women had bien nial Pap smears in the past five years and only 25% conducted BSE monthly i n the past two years. Information relating to perceived barriers to underta ke regular cervical cancer and breast cancer screenings and other health be liefs can be applied by health care personnel to increase Thai immigrant wo men's preventive health behaviors. 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All righ ts reserved.