Rural Mexican American men's attitudes and beliefs about cancer screening

Mexican American men are thought to receive fewer cancer screening services for prostate and colon cancer than the general male population; however, little is known about this group.

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and use of cancer screening services among a sample of high-acculturated Mexican American, low-acculturated Mexican American, and non-Mexican American white men in Washington State. A total of 158 men (127 Mexican American; 31 non-Mexican American white) completed an in-person interview.

The Mexican American men were more likely to report employment in agriculture and had completed fewer years of formal education compared with the non-Mexican American men, and were more likely than their non-Mexican American counterparts to have little knowledge about the causes of cancer and the need for cancer prevention practices. Further, the Mexican American men were more likely to report avoidant and fatalistic attitudes about cancer.

Future research should address variables that are related to the low level of cancer screening among Mexican American men.