Implications for Breast and Cervical Cancer Control for Latinas in the Rural South: A Review of the Literature

The Latino population has more than tripled in six southern US states. Little research exists describing the Latino population in the rural South and the unique cancer control needs of this group. This article reviews existing literature on Latinas with a focus on rural southern settlement processes and applicable breast and cervical cancer control research. Recommendations for effective cancer control programs include developing special outreach efforts conducted with monolingual Latinas, incorporating important cultural components and values related to family, spirituality, and community, and designing programs that incorporate low-literacy materials and messages or that do not require literacy to participate. Understanding the social, cultural, and economic issues that Latinas face is an important first step in designing culturally relevant breast and cervical cancer control.