UCSF

The purpose of the descriptive cross-sectional study is to examine the factors that enable or impede cervical cancer screening among Latinas in California. This study applied a well-known theoretical framework for health service usage, the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, to examine correlates of Pap testing practices among Latinas who were native-born, recently immigrated or established immigrants.

Data from the combined 2001, 2003, and 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) for self-identified Latinas was explored to determine Pap testing practices and rates. Weighted data for 13,889 Latinas were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models to assess factors that facilitated or presented barriers to Pap testing.

This study determined there was an overall decline of 3% by Latinas reporting a Pap test in their lifetime. Latinas who had health insurance, food insecurity, and/or quit smoking were more likely to have received a Pap test in their lifetime. Time since immigration, age, education, marital status, family type, and time since the last physician visit were variables that contributed the least to ever having a Pap test for Latinas in California.

The theoretical model used for this study, with its emphasis on economic as well as social and psychological factors, appears to fit the data well and addresses the relevant explanatory factors. This study found that among the three groups: U.S.-born, recent immigrants, and established immigrants, lifetime use of Pap testing was lowest among the recently immigrated Latinas, controlling for other known factors associated with screening. This finding demonstrates the importance of targeting recent Latina immigrants to increase the use of cervical cancer screening. However, the declining trend for both native Latinas and established immigrants in Pap testing rates suggests a need for health professionals to target all Latinas, regardless of immigration status, to increase the rate of Pap testing among this vulnerable group.