Byrd Theresa L, Peterson Susan K, Chavez Rafaelita, Heckert Andrea
University of Texas at Houston, School of Public Health, El Paso Regional Campus, 100 North Stanton, Suite 110, El Paso, TX 79902, USA.
Prev Med. 2004 Feb;38(2):192-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2003.09.017.
This study examined beliefs, attitudes, and personal characteristics that correlated with self-reported cervical cancer screening history among Hispanic women aged 18 to 25 years old in El Paso, TX, a large metropolitan area on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Data were collected through a cross-sectional, face-to-face survey. The study questionnaire was based primarily on the Health Belief Model, and included scales that measured perceived susceptibility and seriousness of cervical cancer, and perceived benefits and barriers to Pap test screening. The study questionnaire also included measures of acculturation, Pap test history, pregnancy and sexual history, use of birth control, type of medical insurance, and educational attainment.
Sixty-nine percent reported ever having had a Pap test and 56% reported having had a test in the past year. Eighty percent reported that they were sexually active, and of these, 63% reported using birth control. Respondents understood the seriousness of cervical cancer, their susceptibility to cervical cancer, and the benefits of Pap testing; however, only 61% agreed that most young women whom they know have Pap tests. Greater acculturation and the belief that most young unmarried women have Pap tests were positively associated with ever having screening. The perception that the test would be painful and not knowing where to go for the test were negatively associated with ever having a Pap test.
This study found suboptimal rates of screening for cervical cancer in a sample of young Hispanic women residing along the U.S.-Mexico border. Although women may understand the seriousness of cervical cancer and the benefits of screening, perceptions about Pap tests may pose barriers to undergoing screening. Efforts to increase screening also may need to focus specifically on women who are least acculturated, as they also were least likely to have had prior Pap tests.
本研究调查了德克萨斯州埃尔帕索市（美国与墨西哥边境的一个大都市）18至25岁西班牙裔女性自我报告的宫颈癌筛查史相关的信念、态度和个人特征。
通过横断面面对面调查收集数据。研究问卷主要基于健康信念模型，包括测量宫颈癌感知易感性和严重性以及巴氏试验筛查感知益处和障碍的量表。研究问卷还包括文化适应程度、巴氏试验史、怀孕和性史、避孕措施使用情况、医疗保险类型以及教育程度的测量。
69%的人报告曾做过巴氏试验，56%的人报告在过去一年做过检查。80%的人报告有性生活，其中63%的人报告使用避孕措施。受访者了解宫颈癌的严重性、自身患宫颈癌的易感性以及巴氏试验的益处；然而，只有61%的人同意他们认识的大多数年轻女性都做过巴氏试验。更高程度的文化适应以及认为大多数年轻未婚女性都做过巴氏试验与曾接受筛查呈正相关。认为检查会很痛苦以及不知道去哪里做检查与曾做过巴氏试验呈负相关。
本研究发现，在美国与墨西哥边境居住的年轻西班牙裔女性样本中，宫颈癌筛查率未达最佳水平。尽管女性可能了解宫颈癌的严重性和筛查的益处，但对巴氏试验的看法可能会成为接受筛查的障碍。提高筛查率的努力可能还需要特别关注文化适应程度最低的女性，因为她们之前做巴氏试验的可能性也最小。
