Breast cancer knowledge and barriers to mammography in a low-income managed care population.
BACKGROUND
Low-income women experience multiple barriers to screening mammography. This study explored cancer knowledge as a point of intervention to reduce overall barriers.


METHODS
A survey of breast cancer knowledge and barriers was obtained from 173 low-income female residents of Middle Tennessee, > or =40 years, enrolled in the state managed care organization and nonadherent to mammography. Multiple regression models examined the effect of breast cancer knowledge on mammography screening barriers.


RESULTS
Comprehensive breast cancer knowledge, not mere screening awareness, was the strongest contributor towards lower barrier scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies to overcome mammography barriers should include comprehensive breast cancer education.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA. ahmedn@fiu.edu
Nasar U
NU
Ahmed
Jane G
JG
Fort
Alecia Malin
AM
Fair
Kofi
K
Semenya
Gillian
G
Haber
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty