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133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA |
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Patricia Welch Saleeby, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University of Missouri - St. Louis, One University Blvd., Lucas Hall 583, St. Louis, MO 63121, 314-516-4654, saleebyp@umsl.edu
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women and the most common reason for new cancer cases. While every woman is at risk for developing breast cancer, women with disabilities are at a higher risk due to numerous factors including less access to breast health screening and diagnostic services than any other group of women. In fact, women with disabilities are less likely to have a screening or diagnostic mammogram as well as a clinical breast exam than women without disabilities. Contributing to breast health disparities are physical barriers such as inaccessible health care facilities and non-adapted medical equipment as well as educational barriers such as lack of information specifically targeted to women with disabilities and lack of knowledge among breast health care providers in working with women with disabilities. To address the unique issues and concerns of women with disabilities as a significantly underserved population, Paraquad Center for Independent Living initiated a comprehensive program emphasizing breast health awareness, education, and access for women with disabilities. This presentation will describe the implemented program, review evaluative data in conjunction with the program, and discuss the outcomes impacting women with disabilities in improving their breast health services and reducing their breast health disparities.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Cancer, Access to Health Care
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.
The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA