title: Older Hispanic women, health literacy, and cervical cancer screening.
abstract: Approximately 90 million people in the United States lack basic literacy skills, which affect health behaviors. Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, yet few older Hispanic women seek screening and continue to be a high-risk group for cervical cancer. A literature review was conducted to address the relationship between cervical cancer screening, health literacy, and older Hispanic women. Eighty studies were reviewed, and nine addressed health literacy and Hispanic women. One study addressed the association between functional health literacy and Pap smear screening among older Hispanic women. Few studies have explored the association between preventive cervical cancer screening and health literacy among older Hispanic women. Nurses must assess health literacy and be prepared to provide care, which is culturally, and linguistically appropriate to improve health outcomes. Further research is needed to be inclusive of all populations including older Hispanic women.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bertha E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Gayle J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Acton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Hispanic women; cervical cancer screening; health literacy