Description
Latinas are often diagnosed with breast cancer at an advanced and non-localized stage therefore, they are more likely to die from this disease than non-Hispanic white women. The underutilization of mammography screening in the Latino community may explain this disparity. With the growing Latino population in the US, it is imperative to address the issues preventing Latinas from adhering to screening mammography. Correlates of breast cancer screening adherence play a vital role in predisposing, enabling, and presenting a need for the utilization of mammograms as a routine health service. However, research is warranted on examining Mexican-born Latinas, living in the United States, who uniquely experience disproportionate rates of mammography and who are at a disadvantaged position as it pertains to the utilization of health care. As a result, this study will examine the relationship between predisposing (age, knowledge, acculturation, perceived barriers, religiosity), enabling (monthly household income, educational attainment, marital status, employment status), need for care factors (use of other cancer screenings [Clinical Breast Exams (CBE), Cervical Cancer (CC) screening]) and mammography adherence among Mexican-born Latinas residing in San Diego County. Guided by the Behavioral Model for Health Services Use, the intent of this study is to inform culturally tailored, early breast cancer detection efforts for this unique group of Latinas. Baseline data from Fe en Acción (Faith in Action) was the basis for this project. A total of 436 participants were recruited from participating churches to partake in the larger study. Study inclusion for the sub-study consisted of participants being at least 40 years of age or older and reporting Mexico as their country of nativity (n=274). Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between predisposing, enabling, need for care factors, and mammography screening adherence. Findings suggest that older age, current employment, and adherence to CBE guidelines predispose, enable, and present a need for the utilization of screening mammography, respectively. Public health efforts should focus on encouraging providers to continue providing tailored recommendations based on individualized cancer risk, coordinating early cancer detection programs for unemployed women, and informing providers of the important linkage between CBEs and screening mammography.
