title: Beyond the black box: a systematic review of breast, prostate, colorectal, and cervical screening among native and immigrant African-descent Caribbean populations.
abstract: Cancer screening disparities between black and white groupings are well-documented. Less is known regarding African-descent subpopulations despite elevated risk, distinct cultural backgrounds, and increasing numbers of Caribbean migrants. A systematic search of Medline, Web of Science, PubMed and SCOPUS databases (1980-2012) identified 53 studies reporting rates of breast, prostate, cervical, and colorectal screening behavior among immigrant and non-immigrant Caribbean groups. Few studies were conducted within the Caribbean itself; most work is US-based, and the majority stem from Brooklyn, New York. In general, African-descent Caribbean populations screen for breast, prostate, colorectal, and cervical cancers less frequently than US-born African-Americans and at lower rates than recommendations and guidelines. Haitian immigrants, in particular, screen at very low frequencies. Both immigrant and non-immigrant African-descent Caribbean groups participate in screening less frequently than recommended. Studying screening among specific Caribbean groups of African-descent may yield data that both clarifies health disparities between US-born African-Americans and whites and illuminates the specific subpopulations at risk in these growing immigrant communities.
authors: Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand, n.consedine@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Nathan S
authors: NS
authors: Consedine
authors: Natalie L
authors: NL
authors: Tuck
authors: Camille R
authors: CR
authors: Ragin
authors: Benjamin A
authors: BA
authors: Spencer
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D017691:Caribbean Region; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D001741:Black or African American