Background:
Delivering cervical cancer prevention messages to immigrant populations is often complicated by low literacy and low English proficiency. This study explores the relevance of cervical cancer educational materials to learning needs of Mexican immigrant women and the readability of the materials.

Objective:
Objectives of this study are to explore: (1) the nature of cervical cancer knowledge and prevention behaviors among first-generation Mexican immigrant women in the Kansas City area, (2) the relevance of the content of locally used patient education materials to the identified learning needs of these women, and (3) health literacy issues in the written materials that create barriers to learning for this population.

Method:
Methods included (1) in-depth interviews with 18 first generation Mexican immigrant women regarding cervical cancer knowledge and prevention behavior, (2) interviews with 17 health care professionals regarding their perceptions of Hispanic women's lower rates of cervical cancer screening, and (3) content and grade level analysis of 22 pamphlets on cervical cancer used in local clinics serving immigrant women.

Result:
Findings identify problems with language, translation, content, reading level, structure, and visual images in educational materials that create barriers to learning. Knowledge of human papillomavirus as a causal factor is largely unknown among women interviewed.


Conclusion:
There is a disconnect between the identified educational needs of Mexican immigrant women and the educational content of patient education pamphlets. The barriers identified in this study pose learning problems for the women interviewed, which block even their basic understanding of the messages provided. In addition, outdated educational materials are providing inaccurate information to these women.

Implications:
Additional research is needed to establish an evidence base regarding optimal presentation of key elements of the cervical cancer educational message for Mexican immigrant women.