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“Fatalism,” a belief that life’s events are predetermined, may be one reason why Latinas have some of the lowest cancer screening rates in the U.S., new research suggests.
Hispanic women are much more likely than white women to believe that cancer is not preventable, and that death is inevitable in those diagnosed with cancer, the researchers found in the study, scheduled for publication in the online edition of the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
Researchers identified a statistically significant link between fatalism and reduced use of cancer screening services.
Further studies are needed to learn more about this association, the authors noted.
“Improving our understanding of the importance of fatalism in explaining underutilization of cancer screening services among Latinas may drive the development of more effective and culturally appropriate interventions to reduce ethnic disparities in cancer,” the study authors concluded, HealthDay reports.
By The Numbers
25.1
percent
of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage
