Talking circles: Northern Plains tribes American Indian women's views of cancer as a health issue.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research was to understand the cultural meanings of cancer among American Indian women from Northern Plains tribes living in western South Dakota and their experiential view of breast and cervical cancer screening.


METHODS
Using an exploratory design, a purposive sample of 28 women, 35-75 years of age, were recruited into three Talking Circles.


METHODS
Talking Circle and focus group methodology, combined with Affonso's Focus Groups Analytic Schema, were used to generate contextual data sets including thematic findings.


RESULTS
Ten themes emerged indicating interrelationships between cultural traditions and health structures of care. The themes provided a unique perspective for conceptualizing women's experiences with breast and cervical cancer screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Incorporating women's cultural experiences into screening services is necessary to address clinical and policy challenges for reducing breast and cervical cancer mortality among American Indian women. Findings from this research will be used to guide a future study investigating breast-screening patterns related to mammography adherence and development of interventions specific to American Indian women.
Becker
Sara A
SA
south Dakota State University, Colleg of Nursing, rapid city, SD 57701, USA. sara.becker@sdstate.edu
Affonso
Dyanne D
DD
Beard
Madonna Blue Horse
MB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006126:Group Processes; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D013023:South Dakota; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*