Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106236

Magda A. Shaheen, MD, PhD, MS, MPH¹, Osman M. Galal, MD, PhD², Lynn Salahi, MPH³, and Yasser Aman, MPH³. (1) RCMI, Charles R. Drew University, 1731 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059, 323.563.5972, mashahee@cdrewu.edu, (2) Community Health Science, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), p.o.box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (3) --, UMMA Community Clinic, 711 west florence ave, Los Angeles, CA 90044

To explore the utilization of mammography among Muslim women in Southern California, we collected data from 226 Muslim women ≥30 years old using a questionnaire in the primary language of the subjects. Among the 226 women, 82% were ≥40 years old, 78% were married, and 20% had family history of breast cancer. The racial/ethnic distribution was 30% Asian, 27% South Asian, 17% Arab, 9% Iranian, 9% African American, and 7% White. Among women ≥40 years old, 46% did not have mammogram in the past two years. The data showed that utilization of mammography varied significantly by race/ethnicity. Among women ≥ 40 years old, Iranian, African American and Arab reported the lowest utilization of mammography (47%, 50%, 54% respectively) relative to others groups (p<0.05). A significant finding of this study is the lower utilization of mammography in this Muslim women population (54%) compared to the national estimates of 70% and the estimate for California (75.5%). The data point to the need for intervention targeting Muslim women to inform and motivate them about breast cancer screening. Further studies are needed to investigate the factors associated with low utilization of mammography among Muslim women population in California.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Assess the level of utilization of mammography in Muslim women in California and compare it to the national level as well as the level in California.
• Identify the level of utilization of mammogram by race/ethnicity.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Health Care Utilization

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.