Background: Latinas are much less likely to undergo mammography and remain adherent to mammography guidelines. Recent research has begun to identify factors which may enable screening behavior and promote cancer knowledge in underserved Latina populations. These factors include access to care, personal history of mammography, and socio-demographic characteristics. Given the Latino traditions of respecto (respect/deference to authority) and familismo (importance of immediate and extended family), recommendations by physicians, family, or friends may also be integral to mammography screening practices and cancer knowledge. However, this relationship has not been widely examined. The goal of this study is to evaluate the role of physician and family recommendation on intent for mammography screening and cancer knowledge among Latinas living in a rural community.

Methods: This study utilized baseline data collected as part of a larger cancer education project. Participants were Hispanic women between the ages of 40-79 living in a rural agricultural community of Washington State. Data were collected by bilingual and bicultural community residents with extensive training as promotoras. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify significant determinants of mammography screening and cancer knowledge.

Results: Our sample included 79 rural Latina women aged 40-74 (M = 49.85, SD = 8.83). The importance socio-demographic, access to care, and previous mammography history factors were included as covariates, a history of family recommendations to obtain a mammogram were associated with greater cancer knowledge. A history of physician recommendations to obtain a mammogram was associated with plans to obtain a mammogram, after adjusting for covariates noted above.

Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of social factors for cancer knowledge and mammography use in Latina populations, especially with regard to discussions and recommendations with physicians and family concerning mammograms. Future interventions should incorporate recommendations from a variety of social sources to promote mammography screening among Latina women.

Citation Format: Rachel Ceballos, Yamile Molina, Beti Thompson. Evidence of social influence promoting cancer knowledge and intent to obtain mammography among rural Latinas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A84.