STRUCTURE AND MEANING IN MODELS OF BREAST AND CERVICAL-CANCER RISK-FACTORS - A COMPARISON OF PERCEPTIONS AMONG LATINAS, ANGLO WOMEN, AND PHYSICIANS

This article reports on a study of perceptions of breast and cervical cancer risk factors among 27 U.S.-born Chicanas, 39 Mexican and 28 Sal vadoran immigrants, 27 Angle women, and 30 physicians in northern Oran ge County, California. In open-ended responses explaining why women mi ght be at risk for both cancers, Latinas expressed two general themes: physical stress and trauma to the body, and behavior and lifestyle ch oices. Interviewees ranked the specific risk factors that they themsel ves mentioned. Cultural consensus of ranked data revealed that Mexican and Salvadoran immigrants had a model of cancer risks that was differ ent from those of Anglo women and physicians. U.S.-born Chicanas were bicultural in their views, which overlapped with both Mexican women's and Anglo women's views, but less so with physicians' views, Comparing views about the two cancers revealed that general themes apply across both cancers, that Latina immigrants agreed less on the risk factors for cervical cancer than for breast cancer, and that there is a consis tent pattern in the different ways Latinas, Anglos, and physicians per ceive risk factors for both cancers.