Associations Between Women’s Perception of Their Husbands’/Partners’ Social Support and Pap Screening in Pacific Islander Communities

Pacific Islanders experience high rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. This cross-sectional study examined the extent to which Samoan, Chamorro, and Tongan women’s perceived receipt of social support from their husbands or male partners was associated with rates of routine cancer screen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asia-Pacific journal of public health 2016-01, Vol.28 (1), p.61-71
Main Authors: Mouttapa, Michele, Tanjasiri, Sora Park, Weiss, Jie Wu, Sablan-Santos, Lola, DeGuzman Lacsamana, Jasmine, Quitugua, Lourdes, Flores, Preciosa, Flores, Peter, Paige, Ciara, May, Vanessa Tui’one, Tupua, Marina, Schmidt-Vaivao, Dorothy, Taito, Peniamina, Vaikona, Elenoa, Vunileva, Isileli
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Early Detection of Cancer - statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - psychology
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - statistics & numerical data
Original Article
Papanicolaou Test - statistics & numerical data
Self Report
Social Support
Spouses - psychology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - ethnology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control
Young Adult
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Summary:Pacific Islanders experience high rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. This cross-sectional study examined the extent to which Samoan, Chamorro, and Tongan women’s perceived receipt of social support from their husbands or male partners was associated with rates of routine cancer screening- specifically Pap testing. A total of 585 Pacific Islander women who live in the United States completed a self-report survey. Women who reported having a Pap test within the past 3 years had significantly higher scores on support from their husbands/male partners. Furthermore, the relationship of emotional support and informational support with increased Pap testing was significantly stronger for Tongan women. The findings suggest that men play an important role in promoting women’s cancer prevention behaviors in Pacific Islander and potentially other collectivistic populations. Incorporating social support messages into interventions may be a simple yet effective strategy to increase women’s Pap testing.
ISSN:1010-5395
1941-2479
DOI:10.1177/1010539515613412