Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Women's Health
Published in: BMC Women's Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Barriers to cervical cancer screening faced by immigrant women in Canada: a systematic scoping review

Authors: Mahzabin Ferdous, Sonya Lee, Suzanne Goopy, Huiming Yang, Nahid Rumana, Tasnima Abedin, Tanvir C. Turin

Published in: BMC Women's Health | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The objective of this scoping study is to review the published literature and summarize findings related to barriers experienced by immigrant women in Canada while accessing cervical cancer screening.

Methods

Electronic databases of peer-reviewed articles and grey literature were searched using comprehensive sets of keywords, without restricting the time period or language. Articles were selected based on the following criteria: (a) the study population consisted of Canadian immigrant women and healthcare providers and other stakeholders serving immigrant women, (b) the research focused on the barriers to accessing cervical cancer screening, and (c) the study was conducted in Canada.

Results

Extracted data were grouped and analyzed, resulting in barriers comprised of six themes: economic barriers, cultural barriers, language barriers, healthcare system-related barriers, knowledge-related barriers, and individual-level barriers. Lack of education, low income, preference for a female physician, lack of knowledge, lack of effective communication, and embarrassment were some of the most common barriers mentioned.

Conclusions

Immigrant access to health services, including cervical cancer screening, is a complex issue concerning a wide range of barriers. Our findings offer insights into barriers to cervical cancer screening in immigrant communities in Canada that can be used to assist policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers enhance the health and well-being of these populations by mitigating barriers and improving screening.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Navaneelan T. Health at a glance: trends in the incidence and mortality of female reproductive system cancers. Statistics Canada 2015.
2.
3.
4.
Curry SJ, Byers T, Hewitt M. Potential of screening to reduce the burden of cancer. 2003.
5.
6.
Public Health Agency of Canada. Cervical cancer screening in canada: 1998 surveillance report. 1998.
7.
Dickinson JA, Stankiewicz A, Popadiuk C, Pogany L, Onysko J, Miller AB. Reduced cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Canada: national data from 1932 to 2006. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:992.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
8.
Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer Statistics. Canadian cancer-statistics 2016. 2016.
9.
10.
Lofters A, Glazier RH, Agha MM, Creatore MI, Moineddin R. Inadequacy of cervical cancer screening among urban recent immigrants: a population-based study of physician and laboratory claims in Toronto, Canada. Prev Med. 2007;44:536–42.CrossRefPubMed
11.
McDonald JT, Kennedy S. Cervical cancer screening by immigrant and minority women in Canada. J Immigr Minor Health. 2007;9:323–34.CrossRefPubMed
12.
National Household Survey. Immigration and ethnocultural diversity in Canada. In: Statistics Canada; 2013.
13.
Arksey H, O'Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 2005;8:19–32.CrossRef
14.
15.
Lobb R, Pinto AD, Lofters A. Using concept mapping in the knowledge-to-action process to compare stakeholder opinions on barriers to use of cancer screening among south Asians. Implement Sci. 2013;8:37.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
16.
Lofters AK, Moineddin R, Hwang SW, Glazier RH. Predictors of low cervical cancer screening among immigrant women in Ontario, Canada. BMC Womens Health. 2011;11:20.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
17.
Amankwah E, Ngwakongnwi E, Quan H. Why many visible minority women in Canada do not participate in cervical cancer screening. Ethnic Health. 2009;14:337–49.CrossRef
18.
Gupta A, Kumar A, Stewart DE. Cervical cancer screening among south Asian women in Canada: the role of education and acculturation. Health Care Women Int. 2002;23:123–34.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Hislop TG, Deschamps M, Teh C, Jackson C, Tu SP, Yasui Y, Schwartz SM, Kuniyuki A, Taylor V. Facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening among Chinese Canadian women. Can J Public Health. 2003;94:68–73.PubMedPubMedCentral
20.
Hislop TG, Teh C, Lai A, Ralston JD, Shu J, Taylor VM. Pap screening and knowledge of risk factors for cervical cancer in Chinese women in British Columbia, Canada. Ethnic Health. 2004;9:267–81.CrossRef
21.
22.
23.
Lofters AK, Moineddin R, Hwang SW, Glazier RH. Low rates of cervical cancer screening among urban immigrants: a population-based study in Ontario, Canada. Med Care. 2010;48:611–8.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Donnelly TT, McKellin W, Hislop G, Long B. Socioeconomic influences on Vietnamese-Canadian women's breast and cervical cancer prevention practices: a social determinant's perspective. Soc Work Public Health. 2009;24:454–76.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Tiagi R, Chechulin Y. The effect of rostering with a patient enrolment model on emergency department utilization. Healthcare Policy. 2014;9:105.PubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Jackson JC, Do H, Chitnarong K, Tu SP, Marchand A, Hoslop G, Taylor V. Development of cervical cancer control interventions for Chinese immigrants. J Immigr Minor Health. 2002:147–57.
27.
Vahabi M, Lofters A. Muslim immigrant women's views on cervical cancer screening and HPV self-sampling in Ontario, Canada. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:868.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
28.
Donnelly TT. Challenges in providing breast and cervical cancer screening services to Vietnamese Canadian women: the healthcare providers' perspective. Nurs Inquiry. 2008;15:158–68.CrossRef
29.
Hyman I, Cameron JI, Singh PM, Stewart DE. Physicians and pap testing in the Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Toronto. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2003;14:489–502.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Hyman I, Singh PM, Meana M, George U, Wells LM, Stewart DE. Physician-related determinants of cervical cancer screening among Caribbean women in Toronto. Ethn Dis. 2002;12:268–75.PubMed
31.
Oelke ND, Vollman AR. “inside and outside”: Sikh women's perspectives on cervical cancer screening. Can J Nurs Res. 2007;39:174–89.PubMed
32.
Fitch MI, Greenberg M, Cava M, Spaner D, Taylor K. Exploring the barriers to cervical screening in an urban Canadian setting. Cancer Nurs. 1998;21:441–9.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Bottorff JL, Balneaves LG, Sent L, Grewal S, Browne AJ. Cervical cancer screening in ethnocultural groups: case studies in women-centered care. Women Health. 2001;33:29–46.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Donnelly TT. The health-care practices of Vietnamese-Canadian women: cultural influences on breast and cervical cancer screening. Can J Nurs Res. 2006;38:82–101.PubMed
35.
Black AT, McCulloch A, Martin RE, Kan L. Young women and cervical cancer screening: what barriers persist? Can J Nurs Res. 2011;43:8–21.PubMed
36.
Redwood-Campbell L, Fowler N, Laryea S, Howard M, Kaczorowski J. Before you teach me, I cannot know’: immigrant women’s barriers and enablers with regard to cervical cancer screening among different ethnolinguistic groups in Canada. Can J Public Health. 2011;102:230–4.PubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Steven D, Fitch M, Dhaliwal H, Kirk-Gardner R, Sevean P, Jamieson J, Woodbeck H. Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding breast and cervical cancer screening in selected ethnocultural groups in northwestern Ontario. Oncology Nurs Forum. 2004;31:305–11.CrossRef
38.
Woo JST, Brotto LA, Gorzalka BB. The role of sexuality in cervical cancer screening among Chinese women. Health Psychol. 2009;28:598–604.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Xiong H, Murphy M, Mathews M, Gadag V, Wang PP. Cervical cancer screening among Asian Canadian immigrant and nonimmigrant women. Am J Health Behav. 2010;34:131–43.CrossRefPubMed
40.
41.
42.
Sam DL, Berry JW. Acculturation: when individuals and groups of different cultural backgrounds meet. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2010;5:472–81.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Pearlman DN, Clark MA, Rakowski W, Ehrich B. Screening for breast and cervical cancers: the importance of knowledge and perceived cancer survivability. Women Health. 1999;28:93–112.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Lipskie T. A summary of cancer screening guidelines. Chronic Dis Can. 1998;19:112–30.PubMed
45.
Coughlin SS, Breslau ES, Thompson T, Benard VB. Physician recommendation for Papanicolaou testing among US women, 2000. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2005;14:1143–8.CrossRef
46.
Akers AY, Newmann SJ, Smith JS. Factors underlying disparities in cervical cancer incidence, screening, and treatment in the United States. Curr Probl Cancer. 2007;31:157–81.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Schoueri-Mychasiw N, McDonald PW. Factors associated with underscreening for cervical cancer among women in Canada. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013;14:6445–50.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Barriers to cervical cancer screening faced by immigrant women in Canada: a systematic scoping review
Authors
Mahzabin Ferdous
Sonya Lee
Suzanne Goopy
Huiming Yang
Nahid Rumana
Tasnima Abedin
Tanvir C. Turin
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Women's Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0654-5

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

BMC Women's Health 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research article

One in five women suffer from pelvic floor disorders in Kersa district Eastern Ethiopia: a community-based study

Research article

Pupil’s perspectives on female genital cutting abandonment in Harari and Somali regions of Ethiopia

Research article

Factors affecting trust in healthcare among middle-aged to older Korean American women

Research article

“Self-development matters” - Perception of Sakhis (CHWs) assessing self-development outcomes of their participation in the HBNC Program

Research article

Differentials in health-related quality of life of employed and unemployed women with normal vaginal delivery

Case report

Efficient treatment of chronic endometritis through a novel approach of intrauterine antibiotic infusion: a case series