Xu Wang, MD, Preventive Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. T.B. Todd Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208, 615-327-6782, wangx@mmc.edu and RS Levine, MD, Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208.

Objective: To estimate the magnitude of the association between immigration status and mammography use among women aged >40 years in the United States.

Methods: Data from the cancer control module of the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were used to measure the association between immigration status (US- or foreign-born, length of residence in the US) and mammography use within the past 2 years among women aged >40 years (n=10,975) while controlling for confounding factors.

Results: Compared with US-born women, foreign-born women were more likely to be under poverty status, uninsured, less educated, and not to have a usual source of care. The age-adjusted percent of women > 40 years who had a mammogram within the past 2 years increased with length of residence in the US: 30.1% for women immigrated to the US <5 years ago, 39.7% for women immigrated 5-9 years ago, 60.2% for those immigrated >10 years ago, and 66.9% for US-born women. After adjusting for age, poverty status, education, and race/ethnicity, immigration status was found to be linearly associated with mammography use (OR=1.3, 95% CI=1.1-1.5). Additionally controlling for health insurance status and usual source of care did not appreciably change the results (OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.0-1.4).

Conclusions: The association between immigrant status and mammography use among women is independent of poverty, race/ethnicity, lack of insurance, and usual source of care. Further study is needed to understand barriers to cancer screening among US immigrants.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to (A)understand the impact of immigration status on mammography use among women in the United States, and (B) to estimate the magnitude of the association between mammography use and length of residence in the US.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Immigrant Women

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.