Culture, Health and Sexuality
Volume 18, Issue 6, 2015, Pages 710-722

Family and cultural influences on cervical cancer screening among immigrant Latinas in Miami-Dade county, USA (Article)

Madhivanan P.* , Valderrama D. , Krupp K. , Ibanez G.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, United States
  • c Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, United States
  • d Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, United States

Abstract

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects minorities, immigrants and low-income women in the USA, with disparities greatest among Latino immigrants. We examined barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening practices among a group of immigrant Latino women in Florida, USA. Between January and May 2013, six focus group discussions, involving 35 participants, were conducted among Hispanic women in Miami to explore their knowledge, beliefs about cervical cancer and facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening using a theoretical framework. The data showed that family support, especially from female relatives, was an important facilitator of screening and treatment. Women, however, reported prioritising family health over their own, and some expressed fatalistic beliefs about cancer. Major obstacles to receiving a Pap smear included fear that it might result in removal of the uterus, discomfort about being seen by a male doctor and concern that testing might stigmatise them as being sexually promiscuous or having a sexually transmitted disease. Targeted education on cancer and prevention is critically needed in this population. Efforts should focus on women of all ages since younger women often turn to older female relatives for advice. © 2015 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Cervical cancer Latina Immigrant Pap tests USA

Index Keywords

Vaginal Smears information processing cultural anthropology human middle aged early cancer diagnosis Early Detection of Cancer ethnology Hispanic Americans qualitative research Florida Young Adult Humans migrant family Hispanic Adolescent psychology Emigrants and Immigrants female theoretical model Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Models, Theoretical adult Papillomavirus Infections Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Papanicolaou Test attitude to health Focus Groups Culture vagina smear
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84949762173&doi=10.1080%2f13691058.2015.1116125&partnerID=40&md5=b1eeb70799c37f2c306899cb5e4f0660
DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2015.1116125
ISSN: 13691058
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English