TABLE 4.
Mammography Within 2 Years, Aged 40 Years and Older | Papanicolaou Test Within 3 Years | Tobacco Use | Diet and Obesity | |
Mexican American | 59% (1998); lowest use of mammograms among Hispanic women | 73% (1998) | Smoking 13.6%; more smoking with increased acculturation | 29%–39% overweight and obese; high-calorie, high-fat diet, also high in fruit and vegetables |
Puerto Rican | 64% (1998) | 77% (1998) | 30.3% smoking; highest among Hispanic groups | 28%–39% obesity; high animal fat intake in Puerto Rico |
Cuban American | 62% (1998); previously low, increased in the 1990s | 78% (1998); Papanicolaou test use increased after outreach programs | 24.4% smoking rate | 31.6% overweight; 34.9% eat a variety of foods, and 75.5% eat junk food daily |
African American | 65.9% (1998) | 80% (1998) | 21% smoking in 1998, down significantly since 1985 | 66.6% overweight or obese; low intake of vegetables but high intake of fruit |
Asian American | 60.7% overall (1998); variable across ethnic subgroups, range 31%-70% | 67% overall (1998); ranges 43%–95%; lowest use among Vietnamese, recent immigrants, and non-English speaking | Low smoking rates among females, varying 7%-19% by ethnic group | 13%-26% obese, varying across ethnic groups; traditional Asian diet is protective; animal fat increases with acculturation |
Native Hawaiian | 63% reported recent mammogram; 73% ever had a mammogram | 83% reported recent Papanicolaou test, although rates declined in older women (aged 65 years and older) | 30% smoking rate, highest in state of Hawaii | More than 60% overweight or obese; high caloric intake, high fat, meat, fruit, and vegetable intake |
American Samoan | 40%–70% reported recent mammogram | 46% reported recent Papanicolaou test | Estimated 11% smoking rate | High rates of obesity and related risks; migration accompanied by shift to high-fat foods |
American Indian | 44.6% (1998) combined American Indian/Alaska Native | 72% combined American Indian/Alaska Native (1998) | Wide variation across tribes and regions; 20%-37% in recent surveys; smokeless tobacco use a problem | High obesity rates (in 1 urban area, 69.6% overweight and 41.6% obese) |
Alaska Native | No information available separate from American Indians (44.6% in 1998) | 62% within 3 years; 15% annual Papanicolaou test (72% American Indian/Alaska Native combined, 1998) | High rates, estimated 35.6% nationwide | More than 60% overweight, with 32.8% obese; dietary fat in nontraditional foods is high; fish intake also is high |
Note. Information from various sources (see Cancer in Women of Color monograph11).