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The meaning race and ethnicity have on the mammography screening experience
Morgan, Amy C
Morgan, Amy C
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Abstract
One of the two main goals set by Healthy People 2010 is "to eliminate health disparities among different segments of the population." Besides chronic illness health disparities, such as diabetes and coronary heart disease, minority female populations suffer from breast cancer rate disparities. Mammography is the single most effective tool for the early detection of breast cancer, but in 2003, 72% of White, 68% of AA, and 61 % of Latina women who were 40 years of age and older, had a mammogram within the past two years. A qualitative study was conducted to discover similarities and differences in the meaning that women from different racial/ethnic groups ascribe to their mammography experiences.
Women were recruited to participate in one of 11 focus groups to discuss their mammography experience. Focus groups were comprised of African American, White, and Hispanic/Latina women from rural and urban communities across the state of Kansas. Women included in this study spoke English, were 40 years of age or older, had a mammogram within the past three years, and had no history of cancer.
Focus group participants (N=l03) had a mean age of 58.5 years (range 40-83) with 53% having a high school education or less. Hispanic and Black women comprised 53% and 15% of the focus group population, respectively. Most of the women (55%) had a mammogram within the past year. Taxonomy diagrams used to discover domains of meaning uncovered eight themes that affect the mammography experience of focus group participants. Pain during and after the exam and the time spent in the waiting room were issues that affected African American women most. Latinas experience embarrassment and fatalistic beliefs during the mammography exams. White women were most affected by instruction that either prepared them for the exam or instruction that was given during the exam. All three racial/ethnic groups were affected equally by the mammography technologist and the gown that is worn during the exam. Overall, this study found that the meaning of the mammography screening experience varied by race and ethnicity. Quantitative studies and mammography screening interventions should be designed to address these cultural meanings.
Description
M.P.H. University of Kansas, Preventive Medicine and Public Health 2004
Date
2004-05-31
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University of Kansas