Identifying Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in South Asian Muslim Immigrant Women
Abstract
We sought to identify the barriers to cervical cancer screening among South Asian Muslim
immigrant women in Calgary. Qualitative, semi-structured in-depth interviews, by snowball
sampling, were conducted with South Asian Muslim immigrant women of Calgary who were
unscreened or infrequently screened for cervical cancer. Eighteen women were interviewed and
the majority (66%) never had a Pap test. Major findings include: misunderstanding about Pap
test reminders, strong preference for a female physician who also speaks their language, negative
experiences with healthcare providers including painful Pap test experience. Major barriers
involved: lack of knowledge about cervical cancer, fatalist beliefs, transportation, language and
unavailability of female physicians. Separate centers for Pap testing, awareness and
encouragement by healthcare providers to get tested were strategies participants suggested.
Different healthcare strategies are needed at the system and provider level to improve healthcare
experience of these women and to promote cervical cancer screening.
Description
Keywords
Oncology, Public Health
Citation
Rizvi, S. K. (2016). Identifying Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in South Asian Muslim Immigrant Women (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26426