Breast and cervical cancer screening among Latinas attending culturally specific educational programs.
BACKGROUND
Latinas in the United States have higher morbidity and mortality rates for breast and cervical cancers (compared with non-Latina Whites), often due to lower screening rates. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach could help to improve screening rates by creating a culturally customized educational program for Latino men and women addressing low knowledge, gender roles, and spirituality.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a culturally customized program (Esperanza y Vida [Hope and Life]) in increasing breast and cervical cancer screening among Latinas, and to examine how screening rates related to changes in cancer knowledge, differences in ethnic origins, and geographic location.


METHODS
Participants were recruited to attend either a breast and cervical (intervention) or diabetes (control) education program, within a randomized plan. Sixty-nine programs (44 intervention; 25 control) were conducted in Arkansas (AR; n = 39) and New York City (NYC; n = 30) with a total of 847 Latino men and women. Telephone follow-up data were collected on 49% of the women who consented to being contacted 2 months postintervention.


RESULTS
At the 2-month follow-up call, screening rates were significantly higher for the intervention versus the control group for clinical breast examination (CBE; 48% vs. 31%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-4.2), breast self-examination (45% vs. 27%; aOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-5.0), and Pap testing (51% vs. 30%; aOR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.1-14.1), but not for mammography (67% vs. 58%; aOR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.1-3.6). The aORs accounted for the significant effects of study site (AR vs. NYC) and marital status.


CONCLUSIONS
Esperanza y Vida has the potential to reduce health disparities in breast and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality rates through increasing cancer screening and thereby increasing early detection.
Jandorf
Lina
L
Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Bursac
Zoran
Z
Pulley
Leavonne
L
Trevino
Michelle
M
Castillo
Anabella
A
Erwin
Deborah O
DO
D000328:Adult; D001131:Arkansas; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services; D019058:Community Networks; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010349:Patient Compliance; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*