Open AccessImpact of English Language Proficiency on Receipt of Pap Smears Among Hispanics
Author(s) -
De Alba Israel,
Sweningson Jamie M.,
Chandy Christa,
Hubbell F. Allan
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30354.x
Subject(s) - medicine , overweight , body mass index , obesity , breast cancer , confidence interval , mammography , population , demography , relative risk , gynecology , national health and nutrition examination survey , obstetrics , cancer , environmental health , sociology
Our aim was to assess the impact of English language proficiency on Pap smear use among Hispanics. We performed a cross‐sectional study using 2000 National Health Interview Survey data and included 2,331 Hispanic women, age ≥18 without a hysterectomy. After adjusting for sociodemographic and access factors, highly proficient English speakers were more likely to report a Pap smear in the past 3 years as compared to low proficient (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.22). Also associated with Pap smear use were income, usual source of care, and health insurance. Our finding suggests that low English language proficiency is a barrier to receiving recent Pap smears among Hispanics.