D. Buller et al., PREDICTORS OF CERVICAL-CANCER SCREENING IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE, Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 9(1), 1998, pp. 76-95
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Social Work","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
Several barriers impede cancer prevention in the Mexican American popu
lation. This study identified sociocultural factors that could be used
to increase screening rates for cervical cancer in women of reproduct
ive age. A survey was conducted in 1991 of 366 Mexican American women
ages 18 to 40 in Tucson, Arizona, to assess current compliance with ce
rvical cancer screening guidelines and several psychological, social,
and cultural variables. Women who had never been screened (13 percent
of the sample) had a knowledge deficit, no gynecological care, and no
sexual activity. Women not screened annually (16 percent) lacked preve
ntive care, imperfectly understood the Pap test, had lower self-effica
cy expectations for understanding physicians, experienced higher emoti
onal stress about the test, and were older and less acculturated. Wome
n who have never been screened require basic education on cancer and c
ancer screening and policy changes increasing access to care. For wome
n with less routine screening, preventive care, supportive attitudes,
and health cave skills must be encouraged.