Influences on tobacco use among urban Hispanic young adults in Baltimore: findings from a qualitative study.

Background: Among Hispanics, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for men and the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. Despite recent growth in Baltimore City's Hispanic population, few data exist on tobacco use behaviors in this group.

Objectives: The present research sought to explore the social and environmental influences and norms that encourage or discourage tobacco use among Hispanic young adults in Baltimore.

Knowledge of diabetic eye disease and vision care guidelines among Hispanic individuals in Baltimore with and without diabetes.

Objective: To determine gaps in knowledge and barriers to care for diabetic eye disease in Hispanic individuals in Baltimore, Maryland.

Methods: Interviews with a random sample of self-reported Hispanic individuals (n = 349), and a convenience sample of Hispanic individuals with diabetes (n = 204). Four groups were constructed: without diabetes, with and without a family history of diabetes, newly diagnosed with diabetes, and diagnosed with diabetes more than 1 year before the study.

Health competence as predictor of access to care among Latinos in Baltimore.

The goal of this study is to identify the underlying structure of Health Competence and its value as a predictor of access to care among the Latino population in Baltimore, Maryland. Data on a cross-sectional urban probability sample were collected from 330 foreign-born Latino men and women aged 21-75 years residing in Baltimore at the time of the survey. Principal components analysis yielded a two-component solution: the first component comprised "factors enabling" access to care; the second, "perceived barriers".