Perceptions of breast cancer among African American women

Background:  Solano County is one of the most diverse counties in California where 68 % of the population are people of color, of which 17.8 % are African American. The diversity of this county is also associated with breast cancer mortality disparities. Of all ethnic groups in the County, African American women have the highest breast cancer mortality rate, which is 17% above the County average.

Objective:The purpose of this needs assessment was to examine the breast health needs of African American women in Solano County and assess their current breast cancer prevention/awareness knowledge.

Methods: Three focus groups were conducted among African American women in Solano County: Two groups, aged 35-75, combined breast cancer survivors and women who were never diagnosed with breast cancer; the remaining group, aged 20-70, was composed only of women who were never diagnosed with breast cancer. The 90 minute focus groups each consisted of 8-9 African American women and were conducted by trained and racially concordant facilitators.

Results: Discussions revealed that women were concerned about the lack of resources and healthcare access for under insured/uninsured women in Solano County, racial discrimination in the healthcare system, and fear of diagnosis.

Conclusion: Poor access to preventive and treatment care, culturally incompetent providers, and general fears of a breast cancer diagnosis remain factors that contribute to poor breast cancer outcomes among women in Solano County. Findings support the need for continued breast health education, cultural sensitivity training for health providers, and resources to fill health insurance gaps.