Intercultural Communication and Translation News

    Posted by admin on June 21st, 2007

Language barriers, a lack of health insurance and cultural differences all are likely causes behind low mammogram rates among Hispanic women in Texas, state health experts say, the Austin American-Statesmen reports.

Thirty-eight percent of Hispanic women in Texas did not receive a routine mammogram last year, compared with 21% of blacks and 27% of whites, according to CDC data. Cultural factors are one way to explain the low mammogram rates. Patricia Chalela, a health care researcher in San Antonio who has examined the low rate of mammograms among Hispanic women, said, “Hispanics don’t see a doctor if they don’t feel sick.” She added that many Hispanic women “always think in terms of family first” and that women “are the ones that take care of the family. So any needs that they have are put last.” She added that many clinics providing mammograms do not offer services in Spanish.

Read more: Statesman 

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