Mammography use in the Southern Community Cohort Study (United States).
OBJECTIVE
This paper examines the rates of recent mammography use among African American and White women, the influence of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, health insurance coverage, and breast cancer risk factors on recent mammography use and reasons for not having a mammogram.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data from the Southern Community Cohort Study were used to analyze mammography use among African American and White women.


RESULTS
Among 27,123 mostly low-income women age 42-79 in the Southern Community Cohort Study, the rate of recent (within the past 2 years) mammography use was 73% among African Americans and 68% among Whites. Health insurance coverage, age, household income, education, family history of breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy use, and post-menopausal status were positively associated with recent mammography, whereas consumption of 2 or more alcoholic drinks/day was negatively associated. These associations were observed in both African American and White women who had never [corrected] received a mammogram (Non-users) compared with recent mammography users, although some variation existed [corrected] Doctor has not recommended this test and cost were the two most commonly self-reported reasons for non-use.


CONCLUSIONS
Characteristics of non-users and past users identified may provide valuable information for maintaining the progress made and for further improving adherence to the screening guidelines.
Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA. ycui@mmc.edu
Yong
Y
Cui
Neeraja B
NB
Peterson
Margaret
M
Hargreaves
Wanqing
W
Wen
Kushal
K
Patel
John
J
Drake
Heather M
HM
Munro
Lisa B
LB
Signorello
William J
WJ
Blot
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*