Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening among Latinas Attending Culturally Specific Educational Programs

What is the Purpose of this Study?

• • The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of peer-led, culturally appropriate, community-based breast and cervical education programs to increase breast and cervical cancer knowledge and screening behaviors among Latinas.

What is the Problem?

• • Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Latinas in the United States. The incidence of cervical cancer is twice as high for Latinas, compared with non-Latina Whites. In addition, both breast and cervical cancer screening rates are lower among Latinas compared with non-Latina Whites.

• • Barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening in Latinas include poor access to preventive health care services, level of acculturation, differences in cultural belief and language, and limited knowledge about cancer screening.

What are the Findings?

• • Screening rates for breast and cervical cancer increased after participation in the educational programs for Latinas who were previously nonadherent to screening guidelines. Most women who became adherent to breast and cervical cancer screening guidelines reported that Esperanza y Vida was the reason for changing their behavior.

• • Screening was facilitated by offering a patient navigator and addressing system-level barriers (e.g., language, transportation, and cost).

• • Multivariate analyses indicated that program type (cancer program), study site (Arkansas versus New York city) and marital status were significant factors in increasing cancer screening.

Who Should Care Most?

• • Community-based organizations

• • Health care providers

• • Health educators

Recommendations for Action

• • To increase screening for breast and cervical cancer among Latinas, including recent immigrants, programs should include culturally specific education in Spanish; efforts to address system-level barriers to delivery of screening services, such as making services available at convenient times at low cost; and a patient navigator who speaks the same language.

• • To reach new immigrants who are more likely to not speak English, programs need to be conducted in Spanish.