Table 3 Health beliefs of mothers about preventing cervical cancer in their daughters and the Pap test (total N = 1581; missing values excluded)

Cervical cancer may lead to my daughter’s death

267 (17.0)

965 (61.4)

308 (19.6)

32 (2.0)

2.07 ± 0.67

Cervical cancer may lead to my daughter having a hysterectomy

258 (16.4)

1076 (68.6)

213 (13.6)

22 (1.4)

2.00 ± 0.60

Cervical cancer is a serious health problem for my daughter

294 (18.7)

1044 (66.5)

210 (13.4)

23 (1.5)

1.98 ± 0.62

Cervical cancer can lead to my daughter needing to receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment

225 (14.4)

1113 (71.3)

212 (13.6)

12 (0.8)

2.01 ± 0.56

My daughter would be at risk of developing cervical cancer

106 (6.7)

989 (62.8)

434 (27.5)

47 (3.0)

2.27 ± 0.62

If my daughter has cervical cancer, she could die

160 (10.1)

956 (60.6)

439 (27.8)

23 (1.5)

2.21 ± 0.63

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women

161 (10.2)

982 (62.2)

416 (26.3)

20 (1.3)

2.19 ± 0.62

 Subtotal: Risks of cervical cancer (7 items)

14.71 ± 2.97

My daughter would not have time to undergo the Pap test

37 (2.4)

346 (22.2)

950 (60.9)

227 (14.6)

2.88 ± 0.67

My daughter would not undergo the Pap test because she would not be treated in a health-care center

31 (2.0)

231 (14.9)

964 (62.3)

322 (20.8)

3.02 ± 0.66

My daughter would not undergo the Pap test because she would need to wait a long time to be seen

49 (3.2)

283 (18.4)

929 (60.4)

277 (18.0)

2.93 ± 0.70

My daughter would not undergo the Pap test because she would be afraid to find out if she has a cancer

62 (4.0)

332 (21.2)

949 (60.6)

222 (14.2)

2.85 ± 0.70

My daughter would not undergo the Pap test because the health-care center would only be open when she is not available

22 (1.4)

122 (7.8)

942 (60.4)

474 (30.4)

3.20 ± 0.63

My daughter would not undergo the Pap test because she would be too embarrassed to have a genital exam

88 (5.7)

493 (31.7)

801 (51.5)

172 (11.1)

2.68 ± 0.74

My daughter would not undergo the Pap test because it would be difficult to get an appointment

32 (2.1)

233 (15.0)

955 (61.5)

332 (21.4)

3.02 ± 0.67

 Subtotal: Barriers to the Pap test (7 items)

20.57 ± 3.22

My daughter would undergo the Pap test if advised by a nurse or midwife

50 (3.2)

650 (41.8)

777 (49.9)

79 (5.1)

2.57 ± 0.64

My daughter would undergo the Pap test if advised by a doctor

131 (8.4)

845 (54.0)

523 (33.4)

65 (4.2)

2.33 ± 0.69

My daughter would undergo the Pap test if I would speak to her about it

99 (6.4)

577 (37.1)

786 (50.6)

92 (5.9)

2.56 ± 0.70

My daughter would undergo the Pap test if a friend or neighbor would speak to her about it

109 (7.0)

811 (51.9)

603 (38.6)

41 (2.6)

2.37 ± 0.65

My daughter would undergo the Pap test if members of my family would advise her to do it

76 (4.9)

718 (46.2)

685 (44.1)

74 (4.8)

2.49 ± 0.67

My daughter would undergo the Pap test if she heard or read something in the newspaper or in a television or radio program

143 (9.1)

949 (60.6)

438 (28.0)

36 (2.3)

2.23 ± 0.64

 Subtotal: External pressures to undergo the Pap test (6 items)

14.55 ± 2.94

My daughter does not know at what age it would be necessary to first undergo the Pap test

129 (8.3)

820 (52.8)

506 (32.6)

97 (6.3)

2.37 ± 0.72

My daughter does not know how often she would need to undergo the Pap test

127 (8.1)

783 (49.8)

556 (35.4)

106 (6.7)

2.40 ± 0.73

 Subtotal: Awareness of the Pap test (2 items)

4.77 ± 1.24

Getting the Pap test would not make my daughter feel good because it does not means that she would take care of her health

298 (19.0)

1090 (69.3)

176 (11.2)

8 (0.5)

1.93 ± 0.56

The Pap test could not save my daughter’s life

325 (20.7)

1045 (66.6)

175 (11.2)

24 (1.5)

1.94 ± 0.61

The Pap test would not influence my daughter’s health

473 (29.9)

1055 (66.7)

50 (3.2)

3 (0.2)

1.74 ± 0.52

 Subtotal: Benefits of the Pap test (3 items)

5.61 ± 1.33

If my daughter has no symptoms, she would not need the Pap test

42 (2.7)

263 (16.6)

1092 (69.1)

184 (11.6)

2.90 ± 0.62

If my daughter does not have a child, she would not need the Pap test

18 (1.1)

158 (10.0)

1175 (74.5)

227 (14.4)

3.02 ± 0.54

If my daughter does not have intercourse, she would not need the Pap test

29 (1.8)

204 (13.0)

1117 (70.9)

225 (14.3)

2.98 ± 0.59

 Subtotal: Necessity of the Pap test (3 items)

8.90 ± 1.53

 Total 28 items

69.08 ± 7.15