Pathways to Early Breast and Cervical Detection for Chinese American Women

Abstract

The authors used telephone interviews to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding breast and cervical cancer screening among 775 Chinese American women in San Francisco. The rates of ever had a mammogram, ever had a clinical breast examination, and ever examined one's breasts among women aged 40 and older were 70%, 75% and 70%, respectively. The rates of ever had a Pap smear and ever had a pelvic examination were 67% and 85%, respectively. However, the rates of having had these cancer screening tests at regular intervals were much lower (25% for mammograms, 37% for Pap smears). Ability to speak English and insurance status were significantly associated with breast and cervical cancer screening knowledge and practices. Further analysis of the data, together with the data collected from a survey on physicians serving this population, will provide a basis for future interventions.