Abstract B57: Knowledge and cultural health beliefs of cervical cancer and attitudes and behaviors towards cervical cancer screening among Cambodian American women
Authors: Kim Minjin , Lee Haeok , Shi Ling , Chea Phala , Tan Kevin 
Published: May 2016

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of cervical screening behavior among Cambodian American women, and their knowledge and cultural health beliefs about cervical cancer and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening.

Background: The incidence and mortality of cervical cancer has been significantly reduced in the United States as a result of cervical cancer screening. However, the incidence of cervical cancer is still high among Southeast Asian American women, and in particular among Cambodian American women. Yet, little is known about cervical cancer-related knowledge, attitudes, and screening behavior among Cambodian American women.

Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted. A community-based participatory research approach was used to recruit Cambodian American mothers and ethnic-based media strategies were utilized through Khmer radio and television and bilingual flyers throughout Cambodian community. Our survey instrument was constructed based on qualitative research and a literature review. Our qualitative study indicated that there are no words in Khmer for cervix, Pap smear, and cervical cancer. Therefore, diagrams or photographs that represent the terms were included in the survey. Basic descriptive statistics were performed to analyze and summarize demographics, cervical cancer screening behavior, cervical cancer-related knowledge, and attitudes toward the Pap test.

Results: One hundred thirty Cambodian American mothers (mean age =44.6; SD=7.6) completed the survey. Of the respondents 92% were from Cambodia, 48% were married or lived with a significant other, 78% lived in refugee camps, 45% reported speaking English very well or well, 62% had a government insurance program, and 45% had private health insurance. The majority of the participants (97%) reported that they have had a Pap test. Of those, 91% had the last Pap test 1-3 years ago. There was a lack of understanding and knowledge of cervical cancer; 47% reported that women will get cervical cancer because it runs in the family; 76% thought that smoking cannot cause cervical cancer; and 34% believed that cervical cancer is matter of Karma. The majority of the women (74%) thought that having a Pap test performed by a male doctor is embarrassing; 54% reported that the test is painful or uncomfortable; 51% reported that women who have never had sex did not need a pap test; 45% reported that women who are in menopause do not need a pap test or they dd not know the answer; and 22% reported that women who are widowed do not need the test or they did not know the answer.

Conclusion: The study findings provide insight and understanding of Cambodian American women's knowledge, cultural health beliefs, and attitudes towards cervical cancer and the Pap test. Although the prevalence of the Pap test was surprisingly high, the findings clearly indicated that there was a great deal of misunderstanding about cervical cancer and the Pap test. Our participants were middle-aged Cambodian American women; therefore, the findings may not be applicable to those from different age groups. Future studies are needed to explore other age groups. Moreover, culturally and linguistically appropriate educational interventions are needed to improve knowledge and understanding about cervical cancer and the Pap test for this population.

Citation Format: Minjin Kim, Haeok Lee, Ling Shi, Phala Chea, Kevin Tan. Knowledge and cultural health beliefs of cervical cancer and attitudes and behaviors towards cervical cancer screening among Cambodian American women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B57.