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Abstract #151040

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Isabel Scarinci, PhD, MPH, Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Room 609, Birmingham, AL 35294, 205-975-7177, scarinci@uab.edu, Isabel Garces, MPH, Maternal and child health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, 1324 11th Avenue South B7  , Birmingham, AL 35205, and Edward Partridge, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology/ Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Old Hillman Building, Rm 538, Birmingham, AL 35205.

We examined the sociocultural factors associated with acceptability of self-collection (at home) for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and preference between this method vs. Pap Smear among 87 African-American women (AAW) 30 years of age and older in the Mississippi Delta from a theoretical (PEN-3 and Health Belief Model) and culturally relevant perspective. A total of 8 focus groups were conducted. Participants reported that AAW are susceptible to cervical cancer (CC) primarily due to: lack of knowledge, limited financial resources, not engaging in screening for fear of results, and fatalism. Most women acknowledged the CC severity, but were unaware of the HPV-CC link. Barriers to participation Pap screening included: lack of health insurance, limited financial resources, lack of transportation, embarrassment, the test being uncomfortable, and fear of results. Most women were receptive to self-collected sampling, but they were divided regarding preference. The ones preferring a Pap stated that they would rather have a doctor or nurse doing it and that they would not feel comfortable doing it themselves for fear of “not doing it right” or hurting themselves. The ones preferring self-collected sampling indicated privacy and not having to wait at the clinic for a long period of time, as the main reasons. Overall, participants indicated that given detailed instructions and demonstration at the clinic, they would be willing to try self-collected sampling at home. There were concerns regarding cost, confidentiality (e.g., sampling getting lost in the mail), getting results mixed up with another patient, and fear of hurting themselves.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify sociocultural factors associated with self-collected sampling for HPV testing among African American women in the Mississippi Delta

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout