Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 13, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 899-905

Beliefs about the Pap smear among Mexican immigrants (Article)

Gregg J.* , Centurion T. , Aguillon R. , Maldonado J. , Celaya-Alston R.
  • a Division of General Internal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L475, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • b Division of General Internal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L475, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • c Division of General Internal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L475, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • d Division of General Internal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L475, Portland, OR 97239, United States
  • e Familias en Acción, Portland, OR, United States

Abstract

Few studies have examined Latinos' beliefs about the Pap smear or what uses they attribute to the procedure. We conducted qualitative interviews with 28 Mexican immigrant women and 23 Mexican immigrant men recruited through snowball sampling. We found that individuals learned about the Pap smear from a wide variety of sources and often understood the exam to be a screening test for sexually transmitted infections in general. They also related the need for Pap smears and the development of cervical cancer to high risk sexual behaviors. Finally, participants considered men to have a significant role as vectors for disease and as barriers to screening. Our results suggest that interventions to improve cervical cancer prevention among Mexican immigrants may be most effective if they include both men and women and if they recognize and address concerns about STI spread and prevention. Furthermore, interventions must recognize that even when women know how to prevent disease, they may feel disempowered with regard to making behavioral changes that will decrease their risk for STIs or cancer. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009.

Author Keywords

Pap smear Cervical cancer Community-based participatory research Latinos

Index Keywords

Vaginal Smears psychological aspect human middle aged ethnology Mexico interview United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article adult migration attitude to health vagina smear
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-81355143320&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-009-9301-4&partnerID=40&md5=2b94a3f588f2a42fe339c615b20bd376
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-009-9301-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English