Table 2 Awareness of the pap testing and cervical cancer prevention and socio demographic characteristics ( n = 475, missing values excluded)

Opinions about the Pap test

1) Pap testing is not necessary if I am HPV vaccinated

20 (4.3)

14 (4.1)

6 (4.9)

2.88 (0.410)

2) I don’t know when the pap test is necessary

187 (40.3)

144 (42.2)

43 (35.0)

3) Pap testing is necessary after marriage

16 (3.4)

13 (3.8)

3 (2.4)

4) Pap testing is necessary even before marriage

241 (51.9)

170 (49.9)

71 (57.7)

Importance of cervical cancer prevention method (after giving the tip about the Pap test)

(not at all, 0; very much, 100)

–How important are the following methods for preventing cervical cancer?

1) HPV vaccination

87.95 ± 16.73

87.89 ± 17.11

88.11 ± 15.65

0.15 (0.902)

2) Regular Pap testing

77.76 ± 22.00

78.45 ± 21.91

75.78 ± 22.26

1.29 (0.257)

3) Abstinence from sex until marriage

83.76 ± 21.99

87.51 ± 18.40

73.01 ± 27.36

41.77 (<0.001)

4) Minimizing the number of sexual partners

86.23 ± 19.78

87.22 ± 18.70

83.42 ± 22.41

3.27 (0.071)

5) Using condoms regularly

92.47 ± 15.80

93.60 ± 14.46

89.24 ± 18.81

6.81 (0.009)

Self-confidence of practices to prevent cervical cancer (after giving the tip about the Pap test)

(not at all, 0; very much, 100)

–How confident are you in the idea of practicing the following methods for preventing cervical cancer?

1) HPV vaccination

76.46 ± 25.83

77.78 ± 24.30

72.76 ± 29.51

3.30 (0.070)

2) Regular Pap testing

59.56 ± 27.11

61.85 ± 26.64

53.09 ± 27.49

9.19 (0.003)

3) Abstinence from sex until marriage

80.80 ± 27.40

86.90 ± 21.14

63.64 ± 34.86

72.74 (<0.001)

4) Minimizing the number of sexual partners

85.35 ± 22.29

85.62 ± 21.71

84.59 ± 23.91

0.02 (0.670)

5) Using condoms regularly

86.98 ± 21.39

89.34 ± 19.96

80.37 ± 23.86

16.78 (<0.001)

Age

17–20 years

261 (55.3)

212 (60.9)

49 (39.5)

16.94 (<0.001)

21–31 years

211 (44.7)

136 (39.1)

75 (60.5)

20.47 ± 1.70

20.19 ± 1.55

21.27 ± 1.89

39.22 (<0.001)

Religion

No

286 (61.4)

205 (59.6)

81 (66.4)

1.56 (0.19)

Yes

180 (38.6)

139 (40.4)

41 (33.6)

Monthly allowance

10,000 to <250,000

216 (48.4)

181 (55.0)

35 (29.9)

21.77 (<0.001)

(Korean won; 1,000 Korean won, 1 USD)

250,000 to 1,500,000

230 (51.6)

148 (45.0)

82 (70.1)

24.91 ± 15.05

22.05 ± 12.35

32.85 ± 18.93

48.72 (<0.001)

Heard of Pap test prior to survey

No

182 (38.6)

150 (43.1)

32 (25.8)

11.55 (0.001)

Yes

290 (61.4)

198 (56.9)

92 (74.2)

HPV vaccine

Not yet vaccinated

376 (83.4)

278 (84.2)

98 (81.0)

0.68 (0.411)

Vaccinated

75 (16.6)

52 (15.8)

23 (19.0)

Family history of

No

452 (96.4)

335 (96.0)

117 (97.5)

(0.59)*

Cervical cancer

Yes

17 (3.6)

14 (4.0)

3 (2.5)

Age of first sexual

NA

19.69 (±1.50)

Experience (years)

Min–max: 13–23

Condom use during

Never

NA

6 (5.7)

Sexual intercourse

Occasionally

NA

32 (30.2)

Often

NA

37 (34.9)

Always

NA

31 (29.2)