Objectives: To test the effectiveness of a community intervention program to promote breast and cervical cancer screening.
Method: Low-income Mexican American neighborhoods located in 2 Texas cities were assigned to intervention or comparison conditions. A 2-year community intervention was delivered via local mass media and reinforced by indigenous volunteers.
Results: There were higher Pap smear completion rates for women under 40 years of age in the intervention community.
Conclusion: Although it is important to address the cultural needs of all Mexican American women, it is also important to understand the tangible environmental barriers faced by the older women.