Authors (including presenting author) :
FONG CY, CHU LS, LUK W
Affiliation :
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Kowloon West Cluster
Introduction :
Ethnic minorities (EM) constitute 8% of total Hong Kong (HK) population and the number is increasing. Cervical cancer (CC) was the 7th commonest cancer in 2016, and the 9th leading cancer mortality in 2017. Cervical cancer screening (CCS) is effective in preventing CC but its uptake is low in EM women. Cognitive, emotional, procedural-related factors, practical issues and culture related factors have been commonly reported as barriers to PS in overseas studies. Local study is lacking to investigate our own EM population.
Objectives :
To explore the facilitators and barriers to CCS in EM women in HK
Methodology :
Qualitative study using individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews was adopted to evaluate subjects' views and barriers towards CCS. Non-Chinese women aged 25-64 years who ever had sexual experience and with legal residency in HK were recruited. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed per verbatim. Transcripts were coded inductively and common codes were categorized into themes. Subjects’ demographic data were analyzed by descriptive statistics.
Result & Outcome :
Thirty women aged 27-58 were interviewed between 10/2018 and 2/2019. They were of Filipino, Indonesian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Indian and Caucasian ethnicities. Half of the subjects (N=15) had a Pap smear (PS) before. Many had past experiences that were unpleasant yet a few subjects yet many subjects expressed willingness to future CCS. The greatest motivators to perform PS were personal health assurance and professional recommendation. The barriers to CCS included health illiteracy, restriction of the public system, language, practical and emotional barriers. Facilitators to PS included community-based education, multi-lingual and simplified booking system, and extended affordable PS service to public holidays.
Conclusions: Multilingual health promotion materials delivering to different EM communities can improve their health literacy and understanding of the public system. Community-based CCS education and services can ameliorate the language, practical and emotional barriers.
