Cornelia White, PhD, MPH¹, Mona Fouad, MD, MPH², Edward Patridge, MD³, Rhoda Johnson, PhD², and M. Christine Nagy, PhD⁴. (1) Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1273 Oakcrest Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30311, 770-488-8233, zhz3@cdc.gov, (2) Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, MT-618, Birmingham, AL 35294-4410, (3) Obstetrics and Gynecology, Univerisity of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th Street South, OHB 538, Birmingham, AL 35249-7333, (4) Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, P.O. Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

This study demonstrates that 96% of a population of low-income women participating in a cervical cancer prevention study could be successfully categorized into one of five stages of readiness for attending follow-up Pap test appointments using a theoretically derived algorithm. A 5-item positive and negative attitudes and beliefs scale explained 63% of the variance regarding Pap tests in general. The most salient items “Pap tests give true results” (r(84)=.38, p<.01) and “It is painful to me to get a pap test” (r (84) = .65, p=.0001) indicate that although women may trust the results of pap smear tests, the barriers still exist which may prohibit them from attending follow-up Pap test appointments. Ninety-one percent of the women reported being worried about their abnormal Pap test results and about two thirds (n = 59) stated that having an abnormal test result made them afraid to go back for their follow-up visits. Slightly more than half (54%) stated that they had had an annual check up. Future research should focus on addressing these factors, which may serve as predominant barriers to having a follow-up Pap tests. Nearly one-third (n = 30) of the study participants reported some embarrassment about having a Pap test done. Eighty-six percent of the study population were African American women, with more than half (59.1%) being between 16 to 26 years of age. More than 80% had a high school diploma or GED.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the qualitative issues low-income women may have with regards to cervical cancer prevention
• To evaluate the use of the transtheoretical model applied to a population of low-income women regarding cervical cancer prevention

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.