Lack of medical care in North Korea and vulnerability to human trafficking during their migration increase risks of cervical cancer among North Korean refugees. To better understand factors influencing Pap test use, we conducted a qualitative study of eight North Korean refugees in South Korea. Individual barriers were limited knowledge, lack of perceived need for preventive services, and concerns about costs. Environmental facilitators included having female providers, receiving family support, and free screenings. Refugees' health outlook, including viewing cancers as fatal diseases, hindered seeking Pap tests. Multi-faceted approaches to address individual and environmental factors in promoting Pap tests are warranted. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

[No Keywords available]

Vaginal Smears South Korea Republic of Korea refugee Democratic People's Republic of Korea human Refugees middle aged Aged ethnology qualitative research interview Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult Humans psychology Adolescent Interviews as Topic Acculturation Aged, 80 and over female very elderly North Korea questionnaire cultural factor Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice adult Uterine Cervical Neoplasms utilization Papanicolaou Test uterine cervix tumor attitude to health vagina smear