Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 8, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 67-84

Social support among latina immigrant women: Bridge persons as mediators of cervical cancer screening (Article)

Wasserman M.R.* , Bender D.E. , Lee S.-Y. , Morrissey J.P. , Mouw T. , Norton E.C.
  • a Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University, Box G-S311, Providence, RI 02912, United States
  • b Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
  • c Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
  • d Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
  • e Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
  • f Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Abstract

New Latina immigrants face numerous linguistic, cultural, logistical, and material barriers to cervical cancer screenings. Promotoras (lay health advisors) are a proven strategy to promote utilization of care. Since the mid-1990s, interventions in North Carolina have aimed to connect Latina immigrants to a broader range of bridge persons. This study assessed the effect of bridge persons on utilization of cervical cancer screening by Latina immigrants in North Carolina. Women were recruited in Spanish-language churches in four counties (N = 223). Logistic regression results show that persons known through advocacy organizations appeared to increase probability of recent Pap screening by an average of 10.4 percentage points (p < 0.05). Promotoras remain more effective, increasing probability of screening by 12.9 percentage points (p < 0.05) but few women (14%) knew one. No association was found with other bridge person profiles. Interventions are needed to better engage all bridge persons in linking immigrants to preventive health services. © 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Author Keywords

Cervical cancer Screening Bridge persons Promotoras Latina

Index Keywords

Vaginal Smears statistical analysis immigrant Latin America health promotion mass screening logistic regression analysis Data Interpretation, Statistical Preventive Health Services human North Carolina controlled study priority journal probability geographic distribution cancer screening social support Hispanic Americans statistical significance United States Humans Hispanic Adolescent Emigrants and Immigrants female population distribution Caribbean Region Article health care utilization major clinical study adult uterine cervix cancer Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Papanicolaou Test quantitative analysis health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-31144469361&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-006-6343-0&partnerID=40&md5=944db23994afecafe556bce412398c76
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-006-6343-0
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English