Importance of talk and place in cervical cancer prevention

Background:  Latina women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer of any major racial/ethnic group in the United States. Interpersonal discussion is an important predictor of perceived efficacy of cancer screening. 

Purpose: This study examines the relationship of Latina’s social networks to compliance with cervical cancer screening guidelines.

Method:  We recruited 1600 Hispanic women aged 21-50 for a face-to-face survey at clinics and community sites based on their compliance with Pap test guidelines. The survey asked participants to name up to five people with whom they spoke about women’s health issues.  For each member of their social network, women identified their relationship, whether they talked about Pap tests, and where their conversational partner lived.

Results:  Participants most commonly talked about women’s health with their partners, mothers, sisters and female friends. 64% of the people Latinas reported talking to about women’s health lived in their household or neighborhood.  After controlling for age, education, insurance status, and whether a medical professional had encouraged the participant to get a Pap test, talking with a husband/boyfriend/partner (OR = 1.40), mother (OR = 1.62), or female friend (OR = 1.25) was related to Pap test compliance.  Additionally, the higher the proportion of conversational partners who lived in the household or neighborhood, the greater the likelihood of following Pap test guidelines (OR = 1.41). 

Conclusions:  These results suggest that it may prove beneficial to incorporate local family members and friends when advising patients on cervical cancer prevention activities.