Authors

Steven S. Coughlin, Department of Community Health and Sustainability, Division of Public Health, University of MassachusettsFollow
Erica I. Lubetkin, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at The City College of New York, Department of Community Health and Social Medicine
Jennifer L. Hay, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Renald Raphael, Haitian American Public Health Initiatives
Selina A. Smith, Institute of Public and Preventive Health, and Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University

Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Haitian Americans

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans, although striking disparities in colorectal cancer screening and mortality are well-documented among U.S. Blacks. Race, socioeconomic status, and place of birth are factors associated with colorectal cancer incidence and mortality patterns.

Methods: In this article, we summarize published studies on colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans, identified through bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL through August 2015, and offer recommendations for further research.

Results: Only one qualitative study and three quantitative surveys have examined colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans. A qualitative study found important differences in perceptions of the curability of colorectal cancer, preventive practices, and preferred sources of information among Haitian Americans and other ethnic subgroups of U.S. Blacks. Awareness of colorectal cancer screening tests, risk perception, healthcare provider recommendation, and self-reported use of screening are suboptimal among Haitian Americans and other subgroups. In preliminary quantitative studies, Haitian immigrants have been found to have lower colorectal cancer screening rates than other groups such as African Americans.

Conclusions: Culturally appropriate educational interventions are needed to encourage Haitian American adults aged > 50 years to undergo screening for colorectal cancer and to ensure that they are well informed about the value of healthy eating and physical activity.

First Page

149

Last Page

152

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Coughlin, Steven S.; Lubetkin, Erica I.; Hay, Jennifer L.; Raphael, Renald; and Smith, Selina A. (2015) "Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Haitian Americans," Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association: Vol. 5: No. 2, Article 3.
DOI: 10.20429/jgpha.2015.050203
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol5/iss2/3