Comparative data in access to care, health knowledge and screening practices among Cuban and Haitian women in South Florida

Miami is a highly diverse community in which 68% of the population is foreign-born.   Therefore it is often considered as natural laboratory for conducting immigrant research.   Cubans and Haitians are among the leading immigrant groups in Miami.  In this analysis we examine data on socio-demographics, access to care, cancer knowledge, and cancer screening among Cuban and Haitian immigrant women in residing in two low income communities South Florida.   The data was collected using a community based sampling strategy targeting women ages 30-65 as part of an NCI sponsored study on cancer disparities.  We collected data on 163 Cuban and 195 Haitian women.   In the sample 47% of Haitians and 53% of Cubans were permanent residents (most other Cubans were refuges).  Both groups also had low acculturation, 47% of Cubans had lowest acculturation score versus only 23% Haitians (many Haitians speak English to their kids).  In addition, 91% Haitians and 67% of Cubans lacked formal health insurance (however most Cubans had refugee assistance).   Among Cubans 65% did not have usual source of care versus 81% of Haitians.   However, cervical cancer knowledge was much higher among Cubans with 48% answering over half these knowledge questions correctly versus only 7% Haitians.  In addition 41% Haitians but only 4% of Cubans had never had a Pap smear in their lifetime.   We conclude that while both groups of women had low acculturation and significant barriers to care, Cubans had higher health literacy and cervical cancer screening than Haitians.