Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Utilization Among Hispanic Women Living Near the United States-Mexico Border

Abstract

Enabling characteristics were significantly associated with breast and cervical cancer screening use compared to predisposing and need characteristics among older Hispanic women residing near the U.S.-Mexico border. Clinician recommendation of both mammograms and Pap smears and opportunistic clinic visits to medical providers may increase breast and cervical cancer screening coverage and reduce the burden of these two cancers in this high-risk population.

A Promotora-administered group education intervention to promote breast and cervical cancer screening in a rural community along the U.S.–Mexico border: a randomized controlled trial

“…(Detailed methods are described in a separate publication [5].) Participants were selected from census tracts with majority ([50%) Hispanic population.…”

“…Our baseline survey described the breast and cervical cancer screening behaviors among post-reproductive age Hispanic women residing in a rural county along the U.S.-Mexico border [5]. The goal was to obtain specific breast and cervical cancer screening utilization information from a population group that was at risk of non-participation in the current surveillance systems because of cultural and linguistic barriers, low socioeconomic status, and fear of disclosure of non-legal immigration status.…”

The Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors of Older Hispanic Women

“…The findings also suggest that the more constraints or barriers Hispanic women indicate they have, the less likely they will indicate they had a mammogram. Empirical literature (J. L. Angel & Whitfield, 2007;Nuño et al, 2011) suggests that Hispanic women who have barriers, such as poverty, low educational backgrounds, and lower socioeconomic status, are less likely to participate in breast cancer screening services. This finding suggests that there is a continued need to examine the relationship between systemic factors, such as poverty and individual factors, such as cancer screening behaviors.…”

“…A well-established body of evidence indicates the role of cultural factors and breast cancer screening services utilization by Hispanic women (Nuño et al, 2011;Tian et al, 2012). In general, older Hispanics have cultural perspectives in recognizing symptoms, seeking care, communicating symptoms, and adhering to preventive measures that differ depending on their country of origin.…”

“…Although the evidence is mixed, empirical literature indicates that religiosity and spirituality are positive predictors of mammogram utilization among older adults (Benjamins & Brown, 2004), and older Latinas are recognized as highly religious/spiritual (Caplan et al, 2011;Jones et al, 2014;Padilla & Villalobos, 2007). Finally, previous research suggests that greater acculturation of Latinas is associated with a greater likelihood of breast cancer screening participation (Nuño et al, 2011). Therefore, recognizing the role of culture for older Hispanics and accessing health care services and in particular cancer screening services is important to remember.…”