Breast and cervical cancer screening among Latinas and non-Latina whites.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether Latinas differ from non-Latinas in having undergone recent mammography, clinical breast examination, or Papanicolaou testing, as well as the contribution of sociodemographic and health care variables to screening.


METHODS
We used data from the 1991 National Health Interview Survey Health Promotion and Disease Prevention supplement.


RESULTS
Latinas were less likely than non-Latina Whites to have undergone mammography (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57, 0.88), but this difference was attenuated when we controlled for socioeconomic factors (OR = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.70, 1.15). Latinas did not differ from Whites on Papanicolaou tests or clinical breast examinations. Quality of and access to health care predicted screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Latina ethnicity does not predict breast and cervical cancer screening behavior independent of sociodemographic and structural factors.
Abraído-Lanza
Ana F
AF
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168 Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10032, USA. abraido@columbia.edu
Chao
Maria T
MT
Gammon
Marilie D
MD
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*