The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68822

JoAnn M. Thierry, MSW, MS¹, Juliana K. Cyril, PhD, MPH¹, and Lori Agin². (1) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Road, F-35, Atlanta, GA 30333, (404)498-3022, jxt4@cdc.gov, (2) Prospect Center, American Institutes for Research, Druid Chase Park, 2801 Buford Highway, suite 180, Atlanta, GA 30329

Breast cancer is a major public health concern for all women including women with disabilities. Disabled women are just as likely as women without disabilities to have ever received a mammogram, however, they are significantly less likely to have been screened within the recommended guidelines. The public health community has increased breast cancer awareness and encouraged women to adopt preventive practices through the use of health communication messages and campaigns, yet few communication messages exist that target women with disabilities. In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control(CDC) conducted a qualitative study to explore the barriers to breast cancer screening for women with physical disabilities. Barriers identified include: individual perception of risk, pre-occupation with other health issues, not knowing where to go for accessible screening, difficulty with positioning, inaccessible facilities and equipment, and provider knowledge and attitudes. In addition, disabled women identified the lack of health promotion messages and materials that reflect their unique needs and concerns. Consequently, CDC undertook the development of culturally relevant concepts, messages, and health promotion materials designed to increase awareness about breast cancer screening among women with physical disabilities. Communication goals and objectives, target audience profiles, an analysis of effective communication channels, the process of message development and testing, and prototype materials will be discussed. Implications for future public health practice including channels for product dissemination, tracking and implementation, and evaluation will be addressed.

Learning Objectives:

• To increase knowledge of the barriers to breast cancer screening among women with physical disabilities.
• To describe the process for developing culturally relevant health promotion messages for women with disabilities.

Keywords: Disability, Breast Cancer Screening

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.