Lower Rates for Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Among Latina Immigrants, USA

Comparing cancer screening rates for 3,340 foreign-born Latinas, U.S.-born Latinas and non-Latina white women,
researchers found that foreign-born Latinas had the highest rates of never receiving mammography (21 percent), clinical
breast examinations (24 percent), and Pap smears (9 percent).


After controlling for socioeconomic factors, however, foreign-born Latinas were more likely to report mammography use in the
previous two years and a Pap smear in the previous three years than non-Latina whites.


The researchers found that lack of health insurance coverage was the strongest predictor of cancer screening
underutilization. They suggest that if access to care for foreign-born Latinas was improved, they would use cancer screening
services appropriately.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: Impact of health Insurance Status, Ethnicity, and Nativity of Latinas

By Michael A. Rodriguez, M.D., et al


Annals of Family Medicine is a peer-reviewed research journal that provides a cross-disciplinary forum for new,
evidence-based information affecting the primary care discipline. Launched in May 2003, the journal is sponsored by six
family medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Medicine, the
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, the Association of Family Medicine
Residency Directors and the North American Primary Care Research Group. Annals is published six times each year and contains
original research from the clinical, biomedical, social and health services areas, as well as contributions on methodology
and theory, selected reviews, essays and editorials. A board of directors with representatives from each of the sponsoring
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Contact: Angela Lower

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American Academy of Family Physicians

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