Fear of COVID-19 as mediator in the relationship between at-risk Filipino women’s health belief and intention to have pap smear test

Abstract

Despite being one of the most preventable and curable types of cancer, cervical cancer still causes death among Filipino women yearly. The pandemic created new obstacles for women to overcome, but some of the obstacles that existed before COVID-19 may now be worsened and will seriously affect women's self-care management, limiting their access to the necessary procedures needed for the screening of cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the relationship of at-risk Filipino women’s health beliefs towards their intention to have Pap Smear test and the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. A causal predictive approach was conducted and 572 female Filipino currently residing in the Philippines participated in the study. Data were gathered utilizing the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale with the Intention to Screen assessed by a structured question. With p-values of < .05 which is considered statistically significant in this study, the outcome of the mediation analysis shows that the mediated effect of fear of COVID-19 is not particularly (partial mediation) significant. There is still a significant direct association between health beliefs particularly on the benefits of Pap Smear test and health motivation and barriers to Pap Smear test with the intention to screen even without the presence of fear. In conclusion, the fear of COVID-19 plays a minor effect in the association between Filipino women's health beliefs and their intention to attend Pap smear testing.