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VOLUME 16, 2015  Issue Number 4 , 1565-1570
DownLoad : 1565-1570 12.8 Sunia Foliaki.pdf
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Barriers to Cervical Screening among Pacific Women in a New Zealand Urban Population
Sunia Foliaki and Anna Matheson
Abstract
Background: In Aotearoa/New Zealand cervical screening programmes have reduced cervical cancer;
however, half of cervical cancer cases among Pacific women are found among clients who had not attended
cervical screening. Hence, we set out to determine health provider perspectives on barriers that prevent their
services reaching Pacific women within Aotearoa/New Zealand. Materials and Methods: Twenty semi-structured
interviews were conducted with health care providers, Pap smear takers and community workers in the Wellington
region. Participants were asked their views on factors that enabled and/or constrained the participation of Pacific
women in their cervical screening services. Results: Six interrelated themes influencing participation in cervical
screening among Pacific women in the Wellington region were apparent: the funding and practice of service
delivery; family always coming first; the cost of screening services; type of employment; the appropriateness of
information; and attitudes to self and screening. Conclusions: Determining specific ethnic group actual health
needs and meeting them contributes to overall improvement in New Zealand¡¯s health status. The results identified
the need for improvements to the delivery of screening services including adapting cervical screening services to
the requirements of Pacific women through more outreach services at alternate clinic hours; culturally appropriate
practitioners; the ability to take up opportunities for health checks and foster long-term relationships; as well
as appropriate monitoring and evaluation of approaches. Funding and reporting relationships also need to be
compatible with the goal of improving outcomes for Pacific women. Further research into client voices for their
particular needs to compliment the service provider perspective as well as minority groups is called for.
Key Words: Cervical cancer - screening - pacific women - Aotearoa/New Zealand
 
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