Abstract
Latina women are less likely to utilize cancer screening services than are non-Latina White women. The purpose of this study
is to examine the relationship between preferred language (English vs. Spanish) and receipt of mammography and Pap-smear testing
among US Latinas and non-Latinas. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2008 and 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
(BRFSS) surveys. While Latinas responding to the BRFSS in English or in Spanish had unadjusted lower odds of receiving mammography
testing, in multivariable analysis Latinas responding-in-Spanish had 2.20 times the odds (OR = 2.20, 95 % CI, 1.90–2.55) of
reporting mammography compared to non-Latinas. Similarly, Latinas responding-in- Spanish had lower unadjusted odds of receiving
Pap-smear testing. However, Latinas responding-in-Spanish had 2.37 times the odds (OR = 2.37 CI, 2.04–2.75) of reporting having
received Pap smear testing compared to non-Latinas in multivariate analysis. The results of this paper further confirm the
“reversed associations” among Latinas and mammography and Pap smear testing described in previous studies and suggest that
in addition to insurance status, preferred language may be a key variable contributing to the reversal phenomenon observed
among Latinas.
is to examine the relationship between preferred language (English vs. Spanish) and receipt of mammography and Pap-smear testing
among US Latinas and non-Latinas. Cross-sectional analysis of the 2008 and 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
(BRFSS) surveys. While Latinas responding to the BRFSS in English or in Spanish had unadjusted lower odds of receiving mammography
testing, in multivariable analysis Latinas responding-in-Spanish had 2.20 times the odds (OR = 2.20, 95 % CI, 1.90–2.55) of
reporting mammography compared to non-Latinas. Similarly, Latinas responding-in- Spanish had lower unadjusted odds of receiving
Pap-smear testing. However, Latinas responding-in-Spanish had 2.37 times the odds (OR = 2.37 CI, 2.04–2.75) of reporting having
received Pap smear testing compared to non-Latinas in multivariate analysis. The results of this paper further confirm the
“reversed associations” among Latinas and mammography and Pap smear testing described in previous studies and suggest that
in addition to insurance status, preferred language may be a key variable contributing to the reversal phenomenon observed
among Latinas.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9694-3
- Authors
- Gita Suneja, Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Joseph A. Diaz, Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA
- Mary Roberts, Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA
- William Rakowski, Department of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912