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

Abstract #108676

Ranjita Misra, PhD, CHES, Health&Kinesiology Department, Texas A&M University, 4243 TAMU, 158P Read Building, College Station, TX 77843-4243, 979-845-8726, misra@hlkn.tamu.edu

National studies mask group differences in cancer incidence and mortality when Asian and Pacific Islanders are examined collectively. The purpose of this study was to describe self-breast exam (SBE), clinical breast exam (CBE), mammogram, and Pap smear among 424 Asian Indian women randomly selected in 5 major U.S. cities (Houston, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., San Diego, Boston). Predictor variables included socio-demographic factors, health care factors, cancer beliefs, acculturation, and family history of cancer. The mean age of the respondents was 43.8 years (SD+11.2) with an average 17 years (SD+10.9) of residence in the U.S. The majority were college educated (75%), had health insurance (87.9%), and routine physical exam (67.4%). 71.7% women reported they ever had a CBE, 61.7% perform SBE, 84.8% had a pap smear, and 83.2% over 40 years had a mammogram. Logistic regression showed compared to women who never had cancer screen practices, odds of women who reported they ever had pap smear lived longer in the US, were acculturated, had health insurance, and were younger. Women who ever had CBE lived longer in the US, were acculturated, and had health insurance. Women who ever had mammogram were older, lived longer in the US, had favorable perceptions to cancer screening, and had health insurance. The models explained 61% variance in mammogram, 9% for BSE, 27% for CBE, and 29% for Pap smear. Even though health care coverage was slightly higher than the national average, results indicated Asian Indian women have cancer screening practices lower than the general U.S. population.

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