Cervical cancer screening willingness and associated health beliefs among predominantly college-educated young women attending gynecology clinics in Shenzhen, China
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Gynecology, Shenzhen Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- 2Department of Gynecology, Pingshan District Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- 4Department of Gynecology, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined cervical cancer screening willingness and its associations with Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs among predominantly college-educated young women attending gynecology outpatient clinics in Shenzhen, China.
Methods: A cross-sectional convenience-sampling survey was conducted (May 2023–May 2026) among 2,317 young women recruited from gynecology outpatient clinics in Shenzhen, China. The primary outcome was personal willingness to undergo screening (single binary item). Self-reported screening within three years was an exploratory secondary outcome. Thirty-three Likert items measured seven HBM domains. Seven HBM domains were treated as investigator-constructed summary scores and examined only exploratorily.
Results: Most participants were aged 18–24 years (96.8%), unmarried (97.1%), and college-educated (95.5%). Screening willingness was reported by 88.3% and screening within the previous three years by 9.5%. Because these indicators capture different constructs (future willingness vs. previous screening experience) and eligibility was not assessed, their difference was not interpreted as a willingness–behavior gap. Cronbach’s α ranged 0.890–0.965. In adjusted models, perceived barriers were inversely associated with willingness (aOR = 0.454, 95% CI 0.375–0.550), while cues to action (aOR = 1.399, 95% CI 1.189–1.646), perceived severity (aOR = 1.257, 95% CI 1.038–1.523), perceived benefits (aOR = 1.194, 95% CI 1.017–1.402), and HPV vaccination (aOR = 1.576, 95% CI 1.161–2.137) were positively associated.
Conclusion: Willingness to undergo screening was commonly reported, whereas prior screening experience was limited. Perceived barriers and cues to action were key correlates. Findings support guideline-based prevention communication but are cross-sectional and limited by clinic-based convenience sampling in Shenzhen, China; causal effects cannot be inferred.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026cervical,
title = {{Cervical cancer screening willingness and associated health beliefs among predominantly college-educated young women attending gynecology clinics in Shenzhen, China}},
author = {Hui Li and Yan Ke and Meihua Wu and Lin Shen and Nan Jiang and Honggui Wang and Mei Wang and Xingdi Qiu and Qiuxiang Wu and Huijun Bai and Yan Wang and Yutao Gao and Wenming Cao and Yang Zhang},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1969898},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1969898},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cervical cancer screening willingness and associated health beliefs among predominantly college-educated young women attending gynecology clinics in Shenzhen, China
AU - Hui Li
AU - Yan Ke
AU - Meihua Wu
AU - Lin Shen
AU - Nan Jiang
AU - Honggui Wang
AU - Mei Wang
AU - Xingdi Qiu
AU - Qiuxiang Wu
AU - Huijun Bai
AU - Yan Wang
AU - Yutao Gao
AU - Wenming Cao
AU - Yang Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1969898
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1969898
AB - Purpose: This study examined cervical cancer screening willingness and its associations with Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs among predominantly college-educated young women attending gynecology outpatient clinics in Shenzhen, China. Methods: A cross-sectional convenience-sampling survey was conducted (May 2023–May 2026) among 2,317 young women recruited from gynecology outpatient clinics in Shenzhen, China. The primary outcome was personal willingness to undergo screening (single binary item). Self-reported screening within three years was an exploratory secondary outcome. Thirty-three Likert items measured seven HBM domains. Seven HBM domains were treated as investigator-constructed summary scores and examined only exploratorily. Results: Most participants were aged 18–24 years (96.8%), unmarried (97.1%), and college-educated (95.5%). Screening willingness was reported by 88.3% and screening within the previous three years by 9.5%. Because these indicators capture different constructs (future willingness vs. previous screening experience) and eligibility was not assessed, their difference was not interpreted as a willingness–behavior gap. Cronbach’s α ranged 0.890–0.965. In adjusted models, perceived barriers were inversely associated with willingness (aOR = 0.454, 95% CI 0.375–0.550), while cues to action (aOR = 1.399, 95% CI 1.189–1.646), perceived severity (aOR = 1.257, 95% CI 1.038–1.523), perceived benefits (aOR = 1.194, 95% CI 1.017–1.402), and HPV vaccination (aOR = 1.576, 95% CI 1.161–2.137) were positively associated. Conclusion: Willingness to undergo screening was commonly reported, whereas prior screening experience was limited. Perceived barriers and cues to action were key correlates. Findings support guideline-based prevention communication but are cross-sectional and limited by clinic-based convenience sampling in Shenzhen, China; causal effects cannot be inferred.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -