Unpacking cancer diagnosis among Latin Americans in Canada: disparities and protective patterns
摘要
Latin Americans are among the fastest-growing racialized groups in Canada but remain largely invisible in cancer surveillance and research. This study examines cancer diagnosis among Latin Americans compared to non-Latin American White and other racialized populations and explores how diagnosis varies across sociodemographic subgroups.
MethodsSecondary analysis of pooled data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2015–2018) was conducted. The analytic sample included 177,754 adults aged 18 or older, of whom 1799 identified as Latin American. Logistic regression models estimated the association between ethnicity and self-reported cancer diagnosis, with interaction terms testing moderation by sex, education, income, and immigration status.
ResultsLatin Americans had lower odds of reporting a cancer diagnosis than non-Latin American Whites (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52–0.92). Subgroup analyses showed stronger protection among males than females, those with mid-range incomes compared to lower or higher earners, and immigrants relative to Canadian-born Latin Americans. Individuals with graduate or limited secondary education also showed greater protection than other education levels.
ConclusionsWhile Latin Americans in Canada appear to experience a protective advantage in overall cancer prevalence, this advantage is not uniform. Disparities persist across sex, socioeconomic position, and immigration status, pointing to structural inequities that remain despite universal coverage. Equity-oriented cancer prevention strategies—including culturally tailored outreach, improved screening access, and systematic collection of race and ethnicity data—are needed to ensure that Latin Americans are not rendered invisible in Canadian cancer care.