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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Hosanna Soler, PhD1, David F. Sly, PhD2, David Quadagno, PhD3, Dianne F. Harrison, PhD4, and Isaac W. Eberstein, PhD2. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520, 203-737-2246, hosanna.soler@yale.edu, (2) Center for the Study of Population, Florida State University, 2240, Tallahassee, FL 32306, (3) Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Conradi Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306, (4) VP Academic Affairs, Florida State University, Westcott Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Breast cancer early detection varies substantially by race/ethnic group which suggests ethnicity as a social marker for understudied attitudinal risks. Ethnic-specific cultural norms and beliefs influence health-related perceptions such as vulnerability to illnesses, benefits from health behaviors, control over one’s health, and access to resources as well as their role on detection. We examined data on 551 low-income, ethnically diverse pre-menopausal women in South Florida using ethnicity-specific models to identify social and lifestyle correlates of recent clinical breast exams (CBE). Social factors included locus of control, religious involvement, unmet basic needs, and level of worry about those needs. Lifestyle factors included smoking, physical activity, nutrition, and obesity. Results revealed early detection correlates vary widely by ethnic group. Religious attendance and exercise showed strong associations with CBE among African-American women only. Relationships between unmet basic needs and CBE run in opposite directions for African-Americans and Whites, and worrying about basic needs and locus of control were associated with CBE among Hispanics. For all women, obesity was associated with recent breast exam and, contrary to expectations, both heavy and light smokers were as likely to practice early detection as non-smokers. Findings underscore the importance of incorporating psychosocial and lifestyle variables to the study of detection behaviors among low-income women while acknowledging the influence of ethnic and cultural norms on how these variables relate to cancer detection. These variations are key for designing health interventions and customizing public health messages as well as for raising awareness among health providers servicing these populations.
Learning Objectives: After the presentation, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Underserved Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.