i COMMUNITY INFLUENCES ON CANCER SCREENING BEHAVIORS AMONG MEXICAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN BY

Traditionally, Latina immigrants have suffered a disproportionate burden of breast and cervical cancer due to lower mammography and Pap smear screening participation. However, a study of the screening rates of Mexican immigrants living in a Chicago neighborhood revealed that not all immigrant communities exhibit low participation rates. The purpose of this two-phase, mixed-method study was to examine the social context in Little Village (LV) that contributes to women‘s high cancer screening rates. In the first phase of the study, I examined the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and emotions of 41 Mexican immigrant women regarding breast and cervical cancer (including etiology, symptoms, and prognosis) as well as their screening practices. This quantitative phase revealed that despite having socio-demographic factors placing them at high risk of underutilizing screening services, such as immigrant status, low income, and low levels of formal education, women in LV reported high mammography and Pap smear screening rates, 87 % and 95 % respectively. In the second phase of the study, I examined the role of place and its influence on screening behaviors. In-depth interviews with six organization and three community representatives revealed that medical, faith-based, and community institutions in LV mitigat