Implications for Breast and Cervical Cancer Control for Latinas in the Rural South: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The Latino population has more than tripled in six southern US states. Little research exists describing the Latino population in the rural South and the unique cancer control needs of this group. This article reviews existing literature on Latinas with a focus on rural southern settlement processes and applicable breast and cervical cancer control research. Recommendations for effective cancer control programs include developing special outreach efforts conducted with monolingual Latinas, incorporating important cultural components and values related to family, spirituality, and community, and designing programs that incorporate low-literacy materials and messages or that do not require literacy to participate. Understanding the social, cultural, and economic issues that Latinas face is an important first step in designing culturally relevant breast and cervical cancer control.

Willingness to Participate in Cancer Screenings: Blacks vs Whites vs Puerto Rican Hispanics

“…These factors include cultural differences, racial bias, emotions and beliefs,46,47 fear of cancer, embarrassment, acculturation,48,49 and fatalistic beliefs 37,50. Thus, it is not surprising that the burden of cancer deaths is particularly high among blacks and Hispanics compared with whites.…”

Cancer Screening Behaviors Among Latina Women: The Role of the Latino Male

“…Research suggests certain structural and organizational barriers may also negatively impact Latinas screening habits, such as a lack of available bilingual clinic staff to schedule appointments or the availability of Spanishspeaking healthcare providers, being underinsured or having no insurance at all, or having a general lack of knowledge of available resources [13][14][15]. In Arkansas, and other more recent destinations for Latino immigrants, Latinas face unique barriers in addition to the barriers faced by Latinas in traditional relocation cities in Texas, California, Illinois, Florida, and New York.…”

Salud es Vida: a Cervical Cancer Screening Intervention for Rural Latina Immigrant Women

“…Individual barriers include limited awareness of cancer screening, embarrassment, fear of a positive diagnosis, lack of time, child care issues, low self-efficacy for screening, and low acculturation. Structural barriers affecting screening adherence include poverty, lack of health insurance, lack of transportation, lack of a regular healthcare provider, stress related to one’s immigration status, and distrust of healthcare institutions [7, 10, 22]. Given the numerous barriers, lower screening compliance and delayed follow-up care for abnormal cervical cancer screening tests increase the risk for later stage diagnosis of cervical cancer in this population.…”