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Pap Testing, Awareness, and Acceptability of a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Among Chinese American Women

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Abstract

Little is known about the knowledge and opinions of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among Chinese immigrants, nor the impact of framing HPV as a sexually transmitted infection in this population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted focusing on knowledge and experience with HPV, HPV vaccine, cervical cancer and Pap testing, and attitudes toward HPV vaccine in response to different message frames. Chinese American women were recruited in a community setting (n = 162). Only 19 % had heard of HPV and 38 % had had a Pap test in the last 3 years. Multivariate logistic regression showed that English proficiency was associated with vaccination acceptance and insurance status was associated with HPV awareness; there was no observed correlation with message framing. Chinese American women with limited English proficiency have low HPV awareness. Community-based, culturally appropriate education about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine should be directed toward limited-English proficient Chinese American women.

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Acknowledgments

The event that served as the setting for this research was supported by the American Cancer Society (East Central Division, Southeast Region) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Philadelphia Chapter. We especially thank Ms. Wan Ling Hung (American Cancer Society) who coordinated the community event. We also thank Dr. Jun J. Mao, Dr. Yanhui Xu and Dr. Canhua Xiao for helping with the questionnaire translation, all the volunteer workers who assisted with data collection, and all of the women who participated in this research.

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Correspondence to Giang T. Nguyen.

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Nguyen, G.T., Chen, B. & Chan, M. Pap Testing, Awareness, and Acceptability of a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Among Chinese American Women. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 803–808 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9607-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9607-5

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