Pap test recency and HPV vaccination among Brazilian immigrant women in the United States: a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study examines how often Brazilian immigrant women in the U.S. get Pap tests and HPV vaccines, finding that younger women and those with healthcare access are more likely to be screened or vaccinated.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into cervical cancer prevention behaviors among Brazilian immigrant women in the U.S.

Findings

83.7% of Brazilian immigrant women had a Pap test in the past three years.

30.3% of respondents reported receiving one or more doses of the HPV vaccine.

Younger women and those with a primary care provider were more likely to be vaccinated or screened.

Abstract

The United States (U.S.) has a growing population of Brazilian immigrant women. However, limited research has explored Pap tests and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among this population.

Participants completed an online survey between July—August 2020. Bivariate analyses examined associations between healthcare-related variables (e.g., insurance, having a primary care provider) and demographics (e.g., age, education, income, marital status, years living in the U.S., primary language spoken at home) with 1) Pap test recency (within the past 3 years) and 2) HPV vaccination (0 doses vs. 1 + doses). Variables significant at p < 0.10 in bivariate analyses were included in multivariable logistic regression models examining Pap test recency and HPV vaccination.

The study found that 83.7% of the sample had a Pap test in the past three years. Women who did not know their household income were less likely to be than women who reported a household income of < $25,000 (adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.95). Women who had seen a healthcare provider in the past year were more likely to have had a Pap test within the last three years than those who had not seen a provider in the past year ([aOR] = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.47). Regarding HPV vaccination, 30.3% of respondents reported receiving one or more doses of the HPV vaccine. The multivariable logic regression models determined that women aged 27 -45 (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.67) were less likely than women aged 18–26 to have been vaccinated against HPV). and that women with a PCP were more likely to be vaccinated than those without a PCP (aOR = 2.47. 95% CI:1.30, 4.59).

This study found that Brazilian immigrant women in the youngest age groups (21 – 29) for Pap test, 18- 26 for HPV vaccination) had somewhat better rates of Pap screening and HPV vaccination than the general U.S. population. This study adds new information about cervical cancer prevention and control behaviors among Brazilian immigrant women.