Attitudes towards and predictors of breast cancer screening among Vietnamese American women

Objectives: This study is conducted to examine attitudes toward breast cancer screening and to explore predictors of screening practice among Vietnamese American women. Methods: 384 Vietnamese American women were interviewed in 2010 in either English or Vietnamese. These women aged 18 or older and lived in Houston (TX), Springfield (MS), Falls Church (VA), Camden (NJ) and Charlotte (NC). Breast cancer screening practice in this study included ever use of breast self-exam and mammogram. Women who had heard of breast cancer were asked about breast self-exam, while mammogram was asked only among women 35 years of age and older. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations between variables and breast cancer screening. Results: 82% of women had ever done breast self-exam and 84% ever had mammogram. Most (95%) women agreed that breast cancer screening can improve the chance of treatment. Breast self-exam practice is influenced by one's attention to preventive practices, disagreement that self-exam interfered with other activities, and one's confidence in performing the exam. Mammogram, on the other hand, is more common with longer duration in the U.S., lower education, lower social-economic status (SES), and having health insurance. Conclusions: The study highlights important factors that influence ever use of breast self-exam and mammogram among Vietnamese American women. Programs to promote these practices should emphasize preventive care and women's self-efficacy in adopting the behavior. These programs should also target women who are less educated and of lower SES.