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

Abstract #108729

Nadia S. Islam, MA¹, Simona C. Kwon, MPH¹, Ruby Senie, PhD², and Navneet Kathuria, MD, MPH³. (1) Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., 7th Floor, Rm 732, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-9079, nsi3@columbia.edu, (2) AANCART, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., 7th Fl., Room 727, Dept. of Epidemiology, New York City, NY 10019, (3) NY AANCART, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., 7th Fl., Room 732, Dept. of Epidemiology, New York City, NY 10032

Problem: South Asian Americans are the fastest growing AAPI ethnic group in the U.S., yet little is known regarding their health behaviors and practices. The purpose of this paper is to document the breast and cervical cancer screening practices of a community sample of South Asian women living in the New York City area. Methods: A convenience sample of 98 South Asian women living in New York City was engaged in face- to- face interviews at health fairs and cultural events regarding their socio-demographic characteristics and cancer screening utilization. Results: 67% of women had ever had a Pap test; 54% had one in the last three years. 70% of women over 40 had ever had a mammogram; 56% had one in the last 2 years. 66% of women had knowledge of breast self-exam (BSE); 34% of women ever practiced BSE. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that insurance status was a significant predictor of ever having a Pap test or mammogram, receiving timely Pap tests, and ever practicing BSE. Education was a significant predictor of ever having a Pap test and having knowledge of BSE. Marital status was a predictor of receiving timely Pap tests, and having spent more time in the U.S. was a predictor of ever practicing BSE. Conclusion: Rates of cancer screening for this sample of women were well below other reported studies. The study concludes that increased educational efforts must be developed targeting newly immigrated South Asian women of low socioeconomic status with low access to healthcare.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will
• Understand the importance of using community samples to study immigrant health;
• Discuss the cancer screening behavior of South Asian women in an urban area; and
• Articulate short and long term policy options to improve screening rates in this community.

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.

Recorded presentation