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Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness and Literacy Among Korean-American Women

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Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Korean-American women experience a higher incidence of cervical cancer than non-Hispanic White women as well as other Asian-American women. A prominent cause of such a disproportional health risk among Korean-American women is a lack of awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer screening. Identifying factors related to cervical cancer screening awareness and literacy is critical for increasing cervical cancer screening among this population.

Methods

Researchers surveyed 230 Korean-American women in a metro area in a Southeastern state, USA. Based on Anderson’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, predisposing, enabling, and need factors were explored to predict cervical cancer screening awareness and literacy.

Results

Monthly income, education, English proficiency, and annual checkups had significantly positive associations with cervical cancer screening awareness. Having an acquaintance giving support and receiving an annual checkup had significantly positive relationships with cervical cancer screening literacy.

Discussion

This study recommends culture specific guidelines to promote annual checkups through primary care physicians and the transfer of information about cervical cancer screening through acquaintances giving support.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 279 Williams St., Athens, GA, USA

    Y. Joon Choi

  2. School of Social Work, University of Alabama, 670 Magnolia Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Hee Yun Lee

  3. Department of Social Work and Sociology, North Carolina A&T State University, 1601 East, Market Dt., Greensboro, NC, USA

    Soonok An

  4. School of Social Work, University of Minnesota, 1404 Gortner Ave., St Paul, MN, USA

    Young Ji Yoon

  5. Department of Counseling Psychology, Radford University, Box 6946, Radford, VA, USA

    Jennifer Oh

Authors
  1. Y. Joon Choi
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  2. Hee Yun Lee
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  5. Jennifer Oh
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Correspondence to Y. Joon Choi.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Choi, Y.J., Lee, H.Y., An, S. et al. Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness and Literacy Among Korean-American Women. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 7, 1–9 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00628-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00628-2

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