title: Socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer screening in Hawaii.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite evidence that breast cancer screening reduces morbidity and mortality, many women do not obtain mammograms. Our objective was to analyze the relationship between income and mammography screening for members enrolled in a large health plan in Hawaii.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed claims data for women (N = 46,328) aged 50 to 70 years during 2003 and 2004. We used parametric and nonparametric regression techniques. We used probit estimation to conduct multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 5th percentile of the earnings distribution, the probability of mammography is 57.1%, and at the 95th percentile, it is 67.7%. Movement from the 5th percentile to the 35th percentile of the earnings distribution increases the probability of mammography by 0.0378 percentage points. A similar movement from the 65th percentile to the 95th percentile increases the probability by 0.0394 percentage points. Also, we observed an income gradient within narrowly defined geographic regions where physical access to medical care providers is not an issue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a steep income gradient in mammography screening in Hawaii. Because of the prevalence of measurement error, this gradient is probably far greater than our estimate. We cannot plausibly attribute our findings to disparities in coverage because 100% of our sample had health insurance coverage. The gradient also does not appear to result from poorer people residing in areas that are geographically isolated from providers of medical care.
authors: John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2424 Maile Way, Saunders Hall 533, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. halliday@hawaii.edu
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Halliday
authors: Deborah A
authors: DA
authors: Taira
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Davis
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors