Differences in cancer-risk-related behaviors in Latino and Anglo adults.
METHODS. Latino (n = 358) and Anglo (n = 113) adults living in the San Diego area were surveyed on nutrition, smoking, and cancer screening behaviors. The Latino respondents were dichotomized into a low (L-Latino) or high (H-Latino) acculturation group according to a median split of an acculturation index. RESULTS. After controlling for age, years of education, gender, marital status, and income, significant cross-cultural differences were found in saturated fat/cholesterol avoidance, and fiber and high calorie food consumption. L-Latino respondents had the lowest degree of saturated fat/cholesterol avoidance, followed by H-Latinos and Anglos. A pattern of decreasing consumption with increasing acculturation was observed for fiber and high calorie foods. Significant differences were found among women in the prevalence of Pap smear exams, with L-Latinas having the lowest prevalence of ever and in the past year having had a Pap smear, followed by H-Latinas and Anglos. A similar significant pattern was observed among women 50 years of age or older with respect to the prevalence of ever having had a mammogram.
Elder
J P
JP
Division of Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, California 92182-0405.
Castro
F G
FG
de Moor
C
C
Mayer
J
J
Candelaria
J I
JI
Campbell
N
N
Talavera
G
G
Ware
L M
LM
D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People