Social and behavioral predictors of cervical cancer screening practices among korean women

Shin, Ho Cheol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Early detection is the most effective strategy for reducing mortality by cervical cancer among women. Many factors associated with attendance for cervical smear test have been reported. The aim of this study was to describe the extent of cervical cancer screening practices among women in Seoul, Korea and to identify the social and behavioral characteristics associated with these activities. We also want to identify the reason for not participating in cervical cancer screening among Korean women.
METHODS
This study was cross-sectional study. From April, 1995 to August, 1995 a sample of 738 women were surveyed by direct interview at family practice clinic. They were all first encountered patients over 18 years old. and were asked question about attendance for cervical cancer screening, utilization of other women cancer screening methods, certain social and behavioral factors. Data were analyzed with X2 analysis and logistic regression using SAS 6.12, and EGRET program.
RESULTS
Approximately 54.1% of the women had had a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test once or more and 48.27f of them had had it regularly. The most frequent reason given for non-attendance for Pap smear test was "Not necessary at my age" (60.37) among women in the twenties, was "Never thought about Pap smear test " among women in the thirties and forties. The prevalence of women undergoing a Pap smear test regularly once in a year was 20.5% of analyzed population and was higher among those women who were married (OR= 15.1, 95% CI 3.1-73.2, p<0.01), who had higher family income(OR=7.3, 95% CI 2.4-22.2, p<0.01), who had last Pap smear test in the last fear(OR=18.2, 95% Cl 7.0-47.2, p<0.01), who had mammography regularly (OR=9.2, 95% CI 2.0-42.3, p<0.01), who had hepatitis B vaccination(OR=4.7 95% CI 2.0-11.2, p<0.01) .
CONCLUSION
These results showed that the predictive factors of utilization of Pap smear test among study population, even though this study was not national surrey, were similar to those factors reported by other researchers. We recognized that women who were poor, who had not spouse, who had a Pap smear test more than 1 year ago, and who had not mammography regularly had lower prevalence of undergoing Pap smear test regularly once in a fear. These factors could, especially as barriers, affect the utilization of Pap smear test as an effective method for early detection of cervical cancer. So, family physicians must consider these factors. These results may be useful in planning screening strategies and educational programs to improve attendance in primary care field.