Community influences on cancer screening behaviors among Mexican immigrant women

Traditionally, Latina immigrants have suffered a disproportionate burden of breast and cervical cancer due to lower mammography and Pap smear screening participation. However, a study of the screening rates of Mexican immigrants living in a Chicago neighborhood revealed that not all immigrant communities exhibit low participation rates. The purpose of this two-phase, mixed-method study was to examine the social context in Little Village (LV) that contributes to women’s high cancer screening rates. In the first phase of the study, I examined the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and emotions of 41 Mexican immigrant women regarding breast and cervical cancer (including etiology, symptoms, and prognosis) as well as their screening practices. This quantitative phase revealed that despite having socio-demographic factors placing them at high risk of underutilizing screening services, such as immigrant status, low income, and low levels of formal education, women in LV reported high mammography and Pap smear screening rates, 87% and 95% respectively. In the second phase of the study, I examined the role of place and its influence on screening behaviors. In-depth interviews with six organization and three community representatives revealed that medical, faith-based, and community institutions in LV mitigate barriers related to language access and awareness of resources, which enhance accessibility to screening exams and services. Despite this, some women in LV still face significant barriers to screening adherence such as misinformation about breast and cervical cancer and screening exams. Given the multiple determinants of health behavior and that several known predictors of screening such as access to services and information about early detection are place based, I argue that social context and especially place of residence are critical to our understanding of screening behaviors in this population.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.P.H.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Montoya, Yadira

Contributors dc:contributor

• Buki, Lydia P.

• Breast cancer screening
• cervical cancer screening
• Mexican immigrants
• Chicago
• Community

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Yadira Montoya

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24385

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/24385