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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 5/2011

01-10-2011 | Original Paper

Beliefs About the Pap Smear Among Mexican Immigrants

Authors: Jessica Gregg, Tatiana Centurion, Raquel Aguillon, Julio Maldonado, Rosemary Celaya-Alston

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 5/2011

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Abstract

Few studies have examined Latinos’ beliefs about the Pap smear or what uses they attribute to the procedure. We conducted qualitative interviews with 28 Mexican immigrant women and 23 Mexican immigrant men recruited through snowball sampling. We found that individuals learned about the Pap smear from a wide variety of sources and often understood the exam to be a screening test for sexually transmitted infections in general. They also related the need for Pap smears and the development of cervical cancer to high risk sexual behaviors. Finally, participants considered men to have a significant role as vectors for disease and as barriers to screening. Our results suggest that interventions to improve cervical cancer prevention among Mexican immigrants may be most effective if they include both men and women and if they recognize and address concerns about STI spread and prevention. Furthermore, interventions must recognize that even when women know how to prevent disease, they may feel disempowered with regard to making behavioral changes that will decrease their risk for STIs or cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Beliefs About the Pap Smear Among Mexican Immigrants
Authors
Jessica Gregg
Tatiana Centurion
Raquel Aguillon
Julio Maldonado
Rosemary Celaya-Alston
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 5/2011
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9301-4

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