Cervical cancer screening knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs of Vietnamese women.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of cervical cancer screening of Vietnamese women who have migrated to the United States.

DESIGN: Exploratory, descriptive.

SETTING: Five Vietnamese churches in southeastern Louisiana.

SAMPLE: Nonprobability sample of 96 adult Vietnamese migrant women.

METHODS: Data were collected by a bilingual nurse during face-to-face interviews conducted in the language preferred by the subjects (English or Vietnamese).

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Cervical cancer screening knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs.

FINDINGS: Three fourths of the Vietnamese women interviewed could not correctly explain what a Pap test is used for, and few were aware that the most commonly occurring cancer in Vietnamese females in the United States is cervical cancer. Most believed that their risk of cervical cancer was low. Less than half reported ever having had a Pap test and cited not having a gynecologist, cost, and fear of the test as reasons for not ever having had the test done.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of Vietnamese women who adhere to cervical cancer screening guidelines is low. Cultural beliefs and structural barriers influence the choices that Vietnamese women make regarding Pap test utilization.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: When planning programs to promote cervical cancer screening, nurses must target those at greatest risk--Vietnamese women. Culturally sensitive educational interventions and cervical cancer screening programs for Vietnamese women are needed to increase Pap test utilization and the early detection of cervical cancer.