title: "He Beat You in the Blood": Knowledge and Beliefs About the Transmission of Traits Among Latinos from Mexico and Central America.
abstract: Genomic literacy is becoming increasingly important. Knowledge about how Latinos from Mexico and Central America (MCA) think and speak about how traits are shared by family members is needed. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 MCA Latino men and women. Interviews elicited detailed information about participant beliefs and knowledge about intergenerational trait transmission, genes and genetics. Transcripts were systematically analyzed. Most participants had familiarity with the role of genes. Knowledge about gene function was limited. Participants used "blood talk" to discuss awareness that traits are transmitted between generations and to express that blood itself plays a crucial role often, but not necessarily, in conjunction with genes or DNA to transmit traits. Health educators need to directly address potential confusion about blood's role in the transmission of traits. Culturally and linguistically appropriate materials are needed to present genetic and genomic information to MCA Latinos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA. jsandber@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Joanne C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D001769:Blood; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D004247:DNA; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D040941:Heredity; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Genetics; Genomics; Health beliefs; Hispanic; Latino