SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN S EXPERIENCES FOLLOWING ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR RESULTS

This ethnographic study approached this problem by§examining South Asian women s descriptions of their§experiences of receiving abnormal Pap test results§and of their follow-up diagnostic evaluations.Little§information exists about women''s experiences§following abnormal cervical screening results§particularly within the context of current health§care services and structures, and regarding their§perceptions of the adequacy of the information,§counseling and support provided.Obvious issues such§as language, cultural values, and beliefs, along with§underlying societal, individual and institutional§factors that co-exist with health care providers §ability to effectively communicate were described by§the participants. Although some health providers§attempt to provide culturally sensitive care§including the use of interpreters and§language-specific printed information for women who§do not speak English, others lack the resources to§provide such care.Obvious issues such as language,§cultural values, and beliefs, along with underlying§societal, individual and institutional factors that§co-exist with health providers ability to§effectively communicate were described by the§participants.