Social Support among Latina Immigrant Women: Bridge Persons as Mediators of Cervical Cancer Screening

Citation

Wasserman, Melanie R.; Bender, Deborah E; .; Lee, Shoou-Yih Daniel; Morrissey, Joseph P.; Mouw, Ted; & Norton, Edward C. (2006). Social Support among Latina Immigrant Women: Bridge Persons as Mediators of Cervical Cancer Screening. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 8(1), 67-84.

Abstract

New Latina immigrants face numerous linguistic, cultural, logistical, and material barriers to cervical cancer screenings. Promotoras (lay health advisors) are a proven strategy to promote utilization of care. Since the mid-1990s, interventions in North Carolina have aimed to connect Latina immigrants to a broader range of bridge persons. This study assessed the effect of bridge persons on utilization of cervical cancer screening by Latina immigrants in North Carolina. Women were recruited in Spanish-language churches in four counties (N = 223). Logistic regression results show that persons known through advocacy organizations appeared to increase probability of recent Pap screening by an average of 10.4 percentage points (p < 0.05).Promotoras remain more effective, increasing probability of screening by 12.9 percentage points (p < 0.05) but few women (14%) knew one. No association was found with other bridge person profiles. Interventions are needed to better engage all bridge persons in linking immigrants to preventive health services.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-006-6343-0

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2006

Journal Title

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

Author(s)

Wasserman, Melanie R.
Bender, Deborah E
.
Lee, Shoou-Yih Daniel
Morrissey, Joseph P.
Mouw, Ted
Norton, Edward C.