160131 Understanding knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding breast and cervical cancer screening among Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian women

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 2:45 PM

Jessica Lee, BA , Consulting Measurement Group, Huntington Beach, CA
Jeff Dang, MPH , Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Jacqueline Tran, MPH , Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Garden Grove, CA
Mary Anne Foo, MPH , Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Garden Grove, CA
Sora Park Tanjasiri, DrPH , Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Tu-Uyen Nguyen, PhD, MPH , Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Annalyn Valdez, MPH , UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Marjorie Kagawa-Singer, PhD, RN, MN , UCLA School of Public Health and Asian American Studies Center, Los Angeles, CA
  
Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women in California. However, API women are the least likely to be diagnosed with cancer due to low screening rates. In particular, breast and cervical cancer are highly prevalent among API women. The PATH for Women study examined four API ethnic subgroups to understand factors influencing cancer screening utilization. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KAB) on the receipt of mammograms, clinical breast exams and Pap smears among these four API subgroups.

Methods: Participants were recruited from community clinics, churches, and supermarkets throughout California. The study yielded a 98% response rate and the sample consisted of 1733 foreign born Cambodians (n = 350), Laotians (n = 354), Thais (n = 741), and Tongans (n = 288). Descriptive statistics were performed on demographic characteristics, language ability, and several questions concerning KAB of cervical and breast cancer and screening. Multivariate regression analyses examined how KAB impacted the receipt of mammograms, clinical breast exams, and Pap smears.

Results: A majority of the participants believed that they should only get a mammogram when they felt a lump. For API women in aggregate at baseline, only 24% received regular mammograms, 27% received clinical breast exams and 30.6% received regular Pap smears.

Conclusions: The findings suggest a need for culturally tailored interventions and awareness initiatives to increase knowledge and promote the utilization of breast and cervical cancer screening among these women.

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objectives: 1) Learn about ongoing cancer research being conducted in the API community. 2) Recognize characteristics associated with knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in several API communities. 3) Understand how knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs can impact health utilization in several API communities.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander Women, Cervical Cancer

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.

See more of: Advancing the Health of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders: An Under-recognized Community in the U.S
See more of: Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of APHA