The migrant farmworker population in the United States is a vulnerable and understudied population whose characteristics are constantly shifting. The number of youth involved in agriculture work is increasing, and they, in particular, may be at increased risk for occupational hazards, such as pesticide exposure. The present study utilized an ecological framework for focus group discussions with 33 adolescent migrant farmworkers in Oregon. Adolescents' risk perception and health beliefs associated with pesticide exposure are examined on four levels of environmental influence: microenvironment, organizational environment, social/community environment, and macroenvironment. Adolescents provided insight on such topics as perceived vulnerability of illness due to pesticide exposure, attitudes toward farmwork, influence of their boss, knowledge of occupational hazards, safety training, and barriers to occupational choice. Cultural influences on occupational safety and health are discussed and increased attention to safety training is recommended.

Although breast cancer rates are lower among Hispanic women than among White women, Hispanics are more likely to die from this disease if they do get it. This may be related to the fact that Hispanic women are less likely to participate in mammographic screening. This study used a two-stage decision model to describe a group of rural, Hispanic women's beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer and mammography. The first stage consisted of exploratory interviews to identify factors, both positive and negative, that affect the mammography decision. The second stage will use a survey to weigh the identified factors in order to determine their importance to the decision. This article presents the stage 1 findings of this study. Twenty-nine rural, Hispanic women between the ages of 38 and 74 participated in the interviews. The majority had annual incomes of < $10,000, and 30% completed < or = 8 years of education. The subjects identified 18 factors, which fell into three general categories: Knowledge and Attitudes (How Well It Works, Personal Risk, Other Ways of Knowing, Fear of Cancer and/or treatment, Belief in Fate, Cultural Issues), Issues Related to Participation (Language, Getting There, Time, Cost, Radiation Exposure, Pain), and Social Concerns (Role Model, Responsibility to Self, Responsibility to Others, Influence of Family/Friends, Influence of Doctors, Influence of Society). Verbatim description of each of these factors are presented. The implication of the findings to health professionals is discussed.

Breast cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among American women. Evidence indicates that regular breast self-examination (BSE) may reduce breast cancer mortality by 18%, yet the majority of women do not practice it. This study used a decision model to examine the BSE-related characteristics, beliefs, and behaviors of 52 working women age 21 to 65 years (mean 44.05 yrs). Nearly 29% of the sample performed BSE. They were more likely than nonperformers to be white, to have a close relative who had breast cancer, and to believe that breast problems could be detected through BSE. Fears, particularly fear of cancer, were more likely to affect performers' than nonperformers' BSE decision. Nonperformers were more likely to think that the first symptom of breast cancer would be a sensation of some type, and that a healthy lifestyle protected them from the disease. They also were more likely to think reminders would encourage them to perform BSE. The most often reported sources of information about BSE were health care providers and friends or relatives.