SOCIAL CONTACT FACTORS IN THE DIFFUSION OF CERVICAL CYTOLOGY AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICANS IN LOS-ANGELES-COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Cancer of the cervix is responsible for many thousands of deaths in the United States each year. These deaths occur in spite of the fact that if the disease is found early, treatment is almost always successful. It is important, therefore, to understand more about factors associated with acceptance and non-acceptance of cervical cytology among women, particularly those at high risk for this desease. In our study, we wished to examine the extent to which chicana patients utilize the Papanicolaou smear and the characteristics of those who did and did not. The findings suggest that if measures could increase periodic contact with physicians, whatever the service, these physicians could, in turn, influence them to obtain regular cytologic examinations. In essence, all physicians who attend females should be encouraged to emphasize and insist on periodic examinations of the cervix uteri. This approach to cancer prevention and control seems most needed in light of the data presented in this study. It therefore seems that if motivating programs were directed toward channels suggested by these findings, a significant number of currently irregular or non-acceptors of cytological screening would obtain periodic screenings for cancer. © 1979.