The Need for a Holistic Approach to Prevent Reproductive Cancers Among US Latinas: The Potential Impact of Normalizing Sexuality and Improving Communication

Abstract

US Latinas are disproportionately affected by health disparities, particularly in the domain of sexual and reproductive health. Past research across domains of study in the field of sexual and reproductive health, including cervical cancer prevention, has operated in a silo leading the field to overlook potential root causes of sexual and reproductive ill-health among Latinos. Furthermore, in the case of cervical cancer prevention, interventions have been informed by theories which assume that variables operating at the individual level will exert the greatest impact on behavior change. The purpose of this chapter is to present gaps in the field of cervical cancer prevention research and intervention development while making a call for researchers take a closer look at variables operating at multiple levels of influence. In hopes of moving the field forward, we present the results of two research studies which help bolster the case for a more nuanced conceptualization of the potential effect of culture which may operate at various levels of influence.