Insights of Vietnamese American Women on Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Self-Sampling

Vietnamese American women experience one of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States, largely due to low screening uptake. To inform strategies for reducing this burden, we explored the experiences and attitudes toward cervical cancer screening, including the perceptions on Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, among Vietnamese American women. Between April 2023 and July 2024, we conducted four focus groups and three individual interviews with 21 Vietnamese American women aged 30-65 residing in Southern California. Participants were stratified by nativity and age: Vietnam-born ages 30-49, Vietnam-born ages 50-65, and U.S.-born ages 30-49. All focus groups and interviews were conducted online and moderated by a bilingual researcher using semi-structured guides. Participants also watched videos on screening methods and shared their views. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using Dedoose 10.0.59. Three themes emerged, with no differences across strata. First, structural and psychosocial barriers to physician-based screening were identified. Second, HPV self-sampling was viewed as a potential solution to these barriers, though there were mixed opinions regarding one's ability to self-sample correctly, potential discomfort, and logistics related to obtaining a device and mailing samples. Third, other opportunities to improve screening uptake were identified, including a high willingness to undergo screening, the potential to capitalize on the strong trust in physicians, and the opportunities to leverage community-based resources. Our findings suggest that a multifaceted approach integrating HPV self-sampling and provider and community engagement has the potential to improve cervical cancer screening uptake among Vietnamese American women.