Understanding Drivers of Prostate Cancer Screening in Mexican-Origin Men Along the U.S./Mexico Border Region

Abstract

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends individualized decision making about prostate cancer screening for men between 55 and 69 years of age. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic men are less likely to report having had a prostate-specific antigen test. While these differences have been attributed to individual- and system-level barriers in early detection and screening of prostate cancer (PCa), less is known about Mexican-origin men perceptions of barriers to PCa screening. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted semistructured interviews (5 men with PCa history; 15 men without PCa history) to characterize Mexican-origin men’s knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with PCa screening in Yuma County, Arizona. Mexican-origin men viewed genetic predisposition as the main driver of PCa, yet participants highly endorsed PCa screening as reflected by the high rates of PCa screening in our study sample. Further, men spoke to how PCa is a taboo subject among Mexican-origin men and how getting screened for it is often perceived as a threat to their manhood. Finally, Mexican-origin men identified a variety of system-level barriers to PCa screening including lack of health insurance, elevated medical costs, and lack of transportation. The study findings add to an emerging body of literature on determinants of PCa screening among Mexican-origin men. The results of this study have significant implications for public health as they underscore the need for multifaceted interventions that target both individual behaviors and broader social influences to increase PCa screening rates among Mexican-origin men.