Differences in cancer-risk-related behaviors in Latino and Anglo adults

Prev Med. 1991 Nov;20(6):751-63. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(91)90069-g.

Abstract

METHODS. Latino (n = 358) and Anglo (n = 113) adults living in the San Diego area were surveyed on nutrition, smoking, and cancer screening behaviors. The Latino respondents were dichotomized into a low (L-Latino) or high (H-Latino) acculturation group according to a median split of an acculturation index. RESULTS. After controlling for age, years of education, gender, marital status, and income, significant cross-cultural differences were found in saturated fat/cholesterol avoidance, and fiber and high calorie food consumption. L-Latino respondents had the lowest degree of saturated fat/cholesterol avoidance, followed by H-Latinos and Anglos. A pattern of decreasing consumption with increasing acculturation was observed for fiber and high calorie foods. Significant differences were found among women in the prevalence of Pap smear exams, with L-Latinas having the lowest prevalence of ever and in the past year having had a Pap smear, followed by H-Latinas and Anglos. A similar significant pattern was observed among women 50 years of age or older with respect to the prevalence of ever having had a mammogram.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • California / epidemiology
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Diet Surveys
  • Female
  • Health Behavior / ethnology*
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • White People*