Linking Community-based Research and Policy: Age at First Mammogram Among African American Women in a Clinical-based Study
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Start Date
26-6-2008 10:25 AM
End Date
26-6-2008 11:25 AM
Keywords:
Health Disparate, Minority and Vulnerable Populations, Healthcare Disparities, Black or African American, Race Factors, Racism, Community-Based Participatory Research
Description
African American women in the U.S. have the highest breast cancer mortality though not the highest breast cancer incidence. This high mortality rate has been attributed in part to discrepancies in screening between African American women and White women, the group with the highest overall U.S. incidence of the disease. Although this gap in mammography utilization is closing, little is known about what has been and is driving the screening practices of African American women, in particular age at first mammogram. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach guided this study. Participants were a community sample of 213 women ages 22 to 89 years from eight African American churches in greater Baltimore, Maryland. We examined the rates of breast cancer screening and investigated the association between various factors and age at first mammogram. Results: About 77% of women had ever had a mammogram. Over 40% had their first mammogram before the recommended age of 40, a finding consistent with data from a large national study. Women from the current study who first screened before age 40 had greater odds than women who had never screened of being knowledgeable about screening guidelines, of having received a physician recommendation to screen, and of having three or more female relatives who had been screened. Discussion: These findings suggest the importance of reinforcing factors in screening behavior for African American women. These results also have implications for physician training, public health education, technology, and guidelines regarding breast cancer screening. Conclusions: Given accuracy problems and associated risks of mammography in younger women and the lack of knowledge regarding screening practices among African American women of all ages, further research regarding the characteristics of young African American women diagnosed with breast cancer as well as the screening practices of all women in this population is warranted.
Recommended Citation
Wells, Anita M. Ph.D, "Linking Community-based Research and Policy: Age at First Mammogram Among African American Women in a Clinical-based Study" (2008). Disparities in Health in America Workshop: Celebrating Scholar Entrepreneurs Working Towards Social Justice. 13.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/dhaw/2008/kelloggscholars/13
Short Bio and Abstract
Linking Community-based Research and Policy: Age at First Mammogram Among African American Women in a Clinical-based Study
African American women in the U.S. have the highest breast cancer mortality though not the highest breast cancer incidence. This high mortality rate has been attributed in part to discrepancies in screening between African American women and White women, the group with the highest overall U.S. incidence of the disease. Although this gap in mammography utilization is closing, little is known about what has been and is driving the screening practices of African American women, in particular age at first mammogram. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach guided this study. Participants were a community sample of 213 women ages 22 to 89 years from eight African American churches in greater Baltimore, Maryland. We examined the rates of breast cancer screening and investigated the association between various factors and age at first mammogram. Results: About 77% of women had ever had a mammogram. Over 40% had their first mammogram before the recommended age of 40, a finding consistent with data from a large national study. Women from the current study who first screened before age 40 had greater odds than women who had never screened of being knowledgeable about screening guidelines, of having received a physician recommendation to screen, and of having three or more female relatives who had been screened. Discussion: These findings suggest the importance of reinforcing factors in screening behavior for African American women. These results also have implications for physician training, public health education, technology, and guidelines regarding breast cancer screening. Conclusions: Given accuracy problems and associated risks of mammography in younger women and the lack of knowledge regarding screening practices among African American women of all ages, further research regarding the characteristics of young African American women diagnosed with breast cancer as well as the screening practices of all women in this population is warranted.
