Barriers to cervical cancer screening among middle-aged and older rural appalachian women

Christina R. Studts, Yelena N. Tarasenko, Nancy E. Schoenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although cervical cancer rates in the United States have declined sharply in recent decades, certain groups of women remain at elevated risk, including middle-aged and older women in central Appalachia. Cross-sectional baseline data from a community-based randomized controlled trial were examined to identify barriers to cervical cancer screening. Questionnaires assessing barriers were administered to 345 Appalachian women aged 40-64, years when Papanicolaou (Pap) testing declines and cervical cancer rates increase. Consistent with the PRECEDE/PROCEED framework, participants identified barriers included predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors. Descriptive and bivariate analyses are reported, identifying (a) the most frequently endorsed barriers to screening, and (b) significant associations of barriers with sociodemographic characteristics in the sample. Recommendations are provided to decrease these barriers and, ultimately, improve rates of Pap tests among this traditionally underserved and disproportionately affected group.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)500-512
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Community Health
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Appalachia
  • Barriers
  • Cervical cancer
  • Middle-aged
  • Screening

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