title: A culturally targeted intervention to promote breast cancer screening among low-income women in East Baltimore, Maryland.
abstract: In Maryland, outreach initiatives have been unsuccessful in engaging low-income African American women in mammography screening. This study aimed to identify factors influencing screening rates for low-income African American women. Based on the Health Belief Model, a modified time series design was used to implement a culturally targeted intervention to promote a no-cost mammography-screening program. Data were collected from women 40 years of age and older on their history of mammography use and their knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer. A 50% screening rate was achieved among 119 eligible participants. Significant predictors of screening behaviors were perceived barriers, lack of insurance, and limited knowledge. This culturally targeted intervention resulted in an unprecedented screening rate among low-income African American women in Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garza
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blinka
authors.forename: Reverend Iris
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Farabee-Lewis
authors.forename: Charlotte E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Zabora
authors.forename: Jean G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D015142:Baltimore; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors