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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rebecca J. Purc-Stephenson, MA, Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada, 519-977-8017, purcste@uwindsor.ca and Kevin M. Gorey, PhD, MSW, School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.

Regular use of breast cancer screening has been shown to be associated with reduced breast cancer incidence among women. Although rates of cancer screening have increased dramatically in the United States and Canada, ethnic minority women are at particular risk for not adhering to recommended cancer screening guidelines. While it is widely cited that ethnic minority women are less likely be screened for breast cancer than their non-Hispanic white counterparts, estimates of breast cancer screening among ethnic minority women show a great deal of variability across studies. This study explores the association of breast cancer screening with ethnic minority status in women by integrating the findings of existing studies using meta-analytic techniques. A total of 126 conceptually and empirically relevant studies that compared breast cancer screening practices among ethnic minority (i.e., African American, Hispanic and/or Asian) women and non-Hispanic white women were selected for systematic review from social scientific and bio-medical research literature databases (1975-2005). Preliminary analyses indicate differential rates of mammography compliance among African American (53.5% [weighted by study sample sizes]), Hispanic (50.2%), Asian (50.8%) and non-Hispanic white (58.1%) women aged 40 years and older. In addition to observation of such main effects, this review explores their moderation by key characteristics of study participants, methods and contexts.

Learning Objectives:

• • To identify study sample, research design, temporal and geographic factors that influence the prevalent estimation of breast cancer screening practices among ethnic minority women and non-Hispanic white women.
• • To understand the role of demographic, health beliefs and social factors on breast cancer screening practices of ethnic minority women and non-Hispanic white women.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered