Correlates of breast cancer screening practices among Hispanic women residing in South Texas colonias

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among all women. Hispanic women however consistently hold higher rates of mortality from the disease as compared to non-Hispanic Whites. The intent of this thesis is to view the disparity in breast cancer mortality among Hispanic women though three analyses (1) The Health Belief Model (HBM) (2) Impact of a Fatalistic perspective (3) Comparing Hispanic Men and Women's perceptions of breast cancer and screening. A multistage systematic sampling approach was applied to select participants from colonias in Maverick and Val Verde Counties in south Texas. Several statistical techniques were implemented to accomplish each analysis; OLS regression, logistic regression, correlations, T-test, and descriptive measures. The HBM analysis resulted in knowledge, susceptibility, barriers and source of health information as significant in predicting clinical breast examination (CBE) while cues to action and barriers were significant in predicting mammography. In addition, marital status was significant in predicting CBE; health insurance was associated with participation in both CBE and mammography. The second analysis, impact of a fatalistic perspective, suggests that fear and control play significant roles in conceptualizing fatalism and were significantly associated with mammography utilization. Insurance status also significantly predicted mammography. Lastly, comparative analysis finds statistical difference between genders in knowledge, susceptibility, benefits, and barriers to CBE and mammography. Regression analysis demonstrates Hispanic women hold more favorable beliefs about breast cancer and early detection, display higher perceived barriers to CBE and mammography, and view themselves more susceptible to the development of breast cancer.