1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Korea. 2Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Korea.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Uterine cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korean women. Although Pap smear has been a most effective cancer-screening technique, resulting in a significant reduction in mortality from cervical cancer in the screened populations, the number of women undergoing Pap smear is relatively small. Thus, the authors investigated the etiologic factors underlying low performance rate of this screening test.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was done in the selected 13 villages in Koryung and Kimchun County of Kyungbuk Province. The subjects were 431 resident women over 20 years old. The questionnaires of interview included sociodemographic, sociopsyco-logical, obstetric and gynecological data, and perceived benefit and barrier to undergo Pap smear. Framework of this study was based on health belief model. The data was interpreted by frequency analysis, chi-square test, and multiple regression analysis.
RESULTS: Univariate analysis identified several significant variables. Positive predictors of test compliance were age, marital status, education attainment, social security, economic status, knowledge and perceived benefit of Pap smear, and existence of cue to action. Negative predictors were smoking, drinking, personality, number of children, number of gravidity and parity, and existence of barrier.
Barriers to undergo Pap smear were need, spare time, ignorance about Pap smear, shame, cost and difficulty for medical access. Cue to action to undergo Pap smear were motivated by health professional of clinic, hospital, and health-related institution, voluntarily for health promotion, peer pressure, health examination program etc.
Major predictors to undergo Pap smear on multivariate logistic regression analysis were score of barrier, score of cue to action, and marital status.
CONCLUSION: It nay be considered that, in developing screening programs, barriers, and cue to action to undergo Pap smear, and the women who do not have a spouse should be targeted.
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