ABSTRACT
Hispanic women are less likely to receive screening mammograms than are white or African American women, even though breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the population. Between 1990 and 2000, the Hispanic population of Indianapolis, Indiana (Marion County) grew by approximately 300%: from 8450 to 33 290. The present project was undertaken to provide educational outreach in Spanish to the new Hispanic residents of Indianapolis. A bilingual outreach coordinator visited community centers, churches, and health clinics and presented information to Hispanic women and men about a variety of cancers for which Hispanic women are at particularly high risk, including breast and cervical cancer. The number of Hispanic women obtaining mammograms rose by more than 200% during the first 6 months of the program. The authors conclude that culturally appropriate educational outreach presented by a Spanish-speaking woman using a Spanish-language videotape about mammography can improve breast cancer screening in Latinas.