Hispanic Health in Nashville 2007: Cancer Needs Assessment

In response, a coalition of Nashville-area researchers have teamed with community groups to survey the cancer care and prevention needs of Hispanic immigrants. Their findings will help shape future community programs and potentially reduce the burden of cancer among local Hispanics.

“Our local Hispanic community has grown nearly seven-fold over the last decade, yet we do not know much, if anything, about their cancer-related needs,” said lead investigator Pamela Hull, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Health Research at Tennessee State University. “Our survey has found that members of the Nashville Hispanic community are overwhelmingly interested in cancer prevention and healthcare efforts – including cancer clinical trials and cervical cancer vaccination – yet the community generally lacks access to care and information.”

Since 1990, the Nashville Hispanic population has grown from a mere handful to nearly 40,000 people, according to census data, but the real figure might be higher, says Hull. “Over the last 15 years or so, many smaller cities and rural communities across the interior of the United States have seen a similar growth of Hispanic immigrants moving from the states with traditionally larger Hispanic populations,” Hull said. “Our survey, and the participatory methods we use, could help inform these new growth communities about their blossoming Hispanic populations. Statistics on the health of Hispanic immigrants in Tennessee practically do not exist, which is especially worrisome given the lack of health insurance among this population.”

The survey was conducted by the Cancer Outreach Core of the Cancer Disparities Partnership, collaboration between Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University, and Tennessee State University, with funding from the National Cancer Institute.

According to the American Cancer Society, Hispanics, in general, face lower rates of cancer than Caucasians, but higher rates for certain types of cancer, such as cervical, stomach, liver and leukemia. Hispanics also have lower survival rates for most cancers. However, cancer rates may differ according to a person’s country of origin, Hull says.

Hull and her colleagues began a community-based participatory approach to survey the needs of the Hispanic population by partnering with the Progreso Community Center – a grassroots Hispanic community organization – and the Nashville Latino Health Coalition. Together, they trained Hispanic community members and bilingual students to collect data in neighborhoods and public venues across the Nashville area.

They interviewed over 500 Hispanics in the urban area, with an average age of 35. According to their results, 98 percent of respondents were not born in the United States, with more than half emigrating from Mexico. On the surface, Hull says, some of the results of the survey may seem bleak – 80 percent of those surveyed lack health insurance, two-thirds lacked high school degrees and 55 percent spoke little or no English.

The researchers found, however, that Nashville Hispanics took a great interest in cancer care and prevention. Cancer was rated as the top health concern out of a list of 25 topics. Nearly 75 percent indicated they wanted to learn more about cancer prevention, and just over half wanted more information on cancer screening. The vast majority of participants said they would participate in a clinical trial to receive treatment if they had cancer. Participants with daughters under age 18 were asked if they would obtain the new human papillomavirus vaccine for their daughters if it were free, and more than 90 percent said they probably or definitely would.

“The good news is that this population places a strong emphasis on prevention and is receptive to cancer education and screening,” Hull said. “With this baseline information, we will continue to work with Progreso Community Center and Nashville Latino Health Coalition – with direct involvement of grassroots Hispanic community members – to develop culturally appropriate programs and further research to address the cancer-related needs of Hispanics.”-American Association for Cancer Research