Identifying factors that influence breast cancer screening practices in South Asian Indian immigrant women

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in women. The survival rates can be substantially increased by early detection through regular mammography screening. However, women of ethnic subgroups and those who immigrated to the United States within last 10 years are less likely to have had a recent mammogram. Identifying the factors that influence the breast cancer screening practices of South Asian Indian immigrant women is an important step towards developing culturally sensitive health education programs for awareness of mammography screening. Objectives: To assess the general knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and to identify the cultural barriers that may prevent South Asian Indian immigrant women from participating in mammography screening. Methods: A convenience sample of 30 women who were 40 years or older completed, a self-administered survey about issues related to breast cancer. Results: Survey findings, indicated that South Asian Indian immigrant women had 42% level of knowledge about breast cancer risk factors. More than half of the women did not utilize mammography screening. Modesty and lack of family support were two important cultural barriers identified by the participants. Conclusion: This is the first study reported here that South Asian Indian immigrant women of New Jersey are not undergoing routine mammogram screening which may be due to 42% level of knowledge about breast cancer risk factor, as well as cultural barriers unique to this ethnic group. Work is needed to promote awareness about breast cancer among ethnic groups that takes cultural barriers into account.