Cancer Causes and Control
Volume 21, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 421-431

Assessing the acceptability of self-sampling for HPV among haitian immigrant women: CBPR in action (Article)

Barbee L.* , Kobetz E. , Menard J. , Cook N. , Blanco J. , Barton B. , Auguste P. , McKenzie N.
  • a Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite # 1528, Miami, FL 331.36, United States
  • c Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite # 1.504, Miami, FL 331.36, United States
  • d Health Choice Network, 9604 NW 13 Terrace, Miami, FL 331.72, United States
  • e Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite # 1.504, Miami, FL 331.36, United States
  • f Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite # 1.504, Miami, FL 331.36, United States
  • g Haitian American Association Against Cancer, Inc., 225 NE 34th St., Suite 208, Miami, FL 33137, United States
  • h Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1.475 NW 1.2th Avenue, Suite 3500, Miami, FL 331.36, United States

Abstract

Objective To determine whether pairing self-sampling for HPV with community health workers (CHWs) is a culturally acceptable method for cervical cancer screening among Haitian immigrant women residing in Little Haiti, the predominately Haitian neighborhood in Miami, FL. Methods As part of a larger, ongoing community-based participatory research (CBPR) initiative in Little Haiti, Haitian CHWs recruited 246 eligible women to this study. Participants provided self-collected cervical specimens for HPV testing and answered a series of questions about their experience with self-sampling for HPV. Results The vast majority of women (97.6%) was comfortable using the self-sampler at home, would recommend this screening method to their friends and/or family members (98.4%), and described the sampler as easy to use (95.1%). Additionally, 97% of all self-collected specimens were deemed adequate for HPV testing. Conclusions When paired with CHWs, who are of Haitian descent and well respected in Little Haiti, selfsampling is a highly acceptable method of cervical screening for Haitian women in this ethnic enclave. This approach addresses critical access barriers, including poverty, language difficulties, and socioculturel concerns about modesty, that may similarly affect Pap smear utilization among other immigrant or medically underserved population sub-groups. Coupled with generally positive reviews of the device, the low rate of insufficient specimens for testing suggests that this device is promising for use in non-clinical settings.

Author Keywords

Cervix cancer healthcare disparities Cervical smears Community health aides

Index Keywords

Vaginal Smears personal experience immigrant mass screening poverty human Health Behavior middle aged controlled study priority journal cancer screening Wart virus Haiti United States Florida Humans female cultural factor Article major clinical study adult uterine cervix cancer Papillomaviridae Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Papanicolaou Test patient attitude Specimen Handling Emigration and Immigration participatory research Patient Acceptance of Health Care ethnicity DNA Probes, HPV health care disparity Self Care
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77950690445&doi=10.1007%2fs10552-009-9474-0&partnerID=40&md5=2a6fd6190e9e3e73fa0a1b2c7e345e98
DOI: 10.1007/s10552-009-9474-0
ISSN: 09575243
Cited by: 53
Original Language: English