219706 Acculturation, socioeconomic status, access to care and receipt of cervical cancer screening among Vietnamese American women

Monday, November 8, 2010

Grace X. Ma, PhD , Department of Public Health, Center for Asian Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Carolyn Y. Fang, PhD , Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Ziding Feng, PhD , Biostatistics Program, Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Yin Tan, MD, MPH , Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Wanzhen Gao, PhD , Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Joseph An Nguyen , Asian Community Health Coalition, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Vietnamese American women represent the ethnic subgroup at greatest risk for cervical cancer. Despite the fact that the Pap smear test reduces cervical cancer risk, incidence and mortality, only a small percentage of Vietnamese women have undergone cervical cancer screening. The underutilization of cervical cancer screening and the vulnerability of Vietnamese women to cervical cancer are compounded by low socioeconomic status, low educational levels, and cultural and health system barriers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether demographic and acculturation factors and healthcare access variables are associated with prior history of cervical cancer screening among 1,525 Vietnamese women.

Methods: Vietnamese women (n=1,525) were recruited into the study from 30 Vietnamese community-based organizations located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Participants completed assessments of demographic and acculturation variables, health care access factors, and health behaviors in either English or Vietnamese language.

Results: The analysis characterized differences in demographic variables, acculturation factors, behavioral variables, and health care access barriers between Vietnamese women who had previously undergone cervical cancer screening and those who have never been screened.

Conclusion: Understanding the factors that are associated with prior non-receipt of cervical cancer screening will help us identify those Vietnamese women most at-risk for cervical cancer who would benefit from educational intervention programs to increase their screening rates. The long-term potential benefit of the study, which builds on a strong foundation of community participation, will be to reduce cancer disparities and improve accessibility and quality of health care for Vietnamese women.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify contributing factors to cervical cancer screening among Vietnamese American women. 2. By the end of the session, participants will be able to apply the results of this study to the development of culturally appropriate intervention strategies to increase cervical cancer screening rates among Vietnamese women and other Asian Americans.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator of the study to be presented.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

Back to: 3081.3: Cancer Prevention and Control: Cultural and International Perspectives