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Mexican Immigrant Male Knowledge and Support Toward Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

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Abstract

Background We conducted a focus group study to assess the influence of partner communication on breast and cervical cancer screening and the perceived existing and potential support from male partners in participating in cancer screening. Secondarily, Mexican male and female views on health care and cancer were explored. Methods Seven focus groups (two female-only, three male-only, and two couples) were conducted in Spanish. Results Findings suggest that knowledge about cervical cancer was significantly less than knowledge about breast cancer among both men and women. Barriers to cancer screening included language barriers, lack of health insurance, and lack of awareness of the need for screening. Male partners expressed willingness to support their female partners in cancer screening activities. Conclusion Cervical cancer education is desperately needed, including education on the availability of free and low cost screening services. Education efforts should include the male community members, especially as the males perceive themselves as responsible for the financial burden of care.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by NIH/NCI Grant # UO1 CA86286. We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Javier Gonzalez and Monica Cebrian, who facilitated the focus groups, and translated the transcripts, and the tireless efforts of Associacion Tepeyac de New York, YWCA/Encore Plus and Project Reach Youth, who recruited the focus group participants, aided by the efforts of Amarilis Cespedes, and Jaquelina Ramos-Calderon. We also want to acknowledge Karen Carapetayan, NYU High Risk Cancer Clinic, for her contribution in recruiting focus group participants and formulating the focus group outline. We are extremely indebted to Rhodora Ursua, who provided valuable insight during the data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bixby Center for Global Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Heike Thiel de Bocanegra

  2. Center for the Study of Asian American Health, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Chau Trinh-Shevrin

  3. Center for Immigrant Health, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Angelica P. Herrera & Francesca Gany

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  1. Heike Thiel de Bocanegra
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Correspondence to Heike Thiel de Bocanegra.

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Thiel de Bocanegra, H., Trinh-Shevrin, C., Herrera, A.P. et al. Mexican Immigrant Male Knowledge and Support Toward Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening. J Immigrant Minority Health 11, 326–333 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9161-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9161-3

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