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A household probability survey of 1233 Mexican American women and 798 Anglo women residing along the U.S.-Mexico border was conducted. A higher proportion of abstainers was found among the Mexican Americans than among the Anglos in almost every social and demographic category examined (age, marital status, education and employment status). Because the level of alcohol consumption increased markedly with the years of education completed, almost all of the overall ethnic differences observed could be accounted for by the generally lower level of education among the Mexican Americans. However, ethnic subgroups of Mexican American women reported different levels of alcohol consumption that could not be accounted for by differences in education, suggesting that additional ethnic factors contribute to drinking patterns.

Lung cancer mortality was reported to be higher among Mexican-American women as compared with Anglo women from 1950 until 1970; however, smoking habits of Mexican-American women have not been adequately described. This study updates lung cancer mortality data in Texas, describes smoking patterns of 1,255 Mexican-American women from a household survey in the four states bordering Mexico, and compares these findings to a reference group of Anglo women residing in the same area. In 1970, lung cancer mortality rates were similar for Mexican-American and Anglo women in Texas; however, by 1974-1976 Mexican-American women in Texas had a 40 per cent lower rate than Anglo women and by 1979, a 49 per cent lower rate. In our 1979 survey results, Mexican-American women reported lower levels of smoking, both in prevalence and amount smoked, as compared with Anglo women. The lower prevalence was reported for all social and demographic categories examined. The relatively low lung cancer mortality rate is most likely due to relatively low levels of cigarette smoking among Mexican-American women. Based on the trend in lung cancer deaths and our survey findings, we would anticipate a continuing low level of lung cancer mortality among Mexican-American women.