title: Factors influencing breast cancer screening in low-income African Americans in Tennessee.
abstract: This study examined demographic and lifestyle factors that influenced decisions and obstacles to being screened for breast cancer in low-income African Americans in three urban Tennessee cities. As part of the Meharry Community Networks Program (CNP) needs assessment, a 123-item community survey was administered to assess demographic characteristics, health care access and utilization, and screening practices for various cancers in low-income African Americans. For this study, only African American women 40 years and older (n = 334) were selected from the Meharry CNP community survey database. There were several predictors of breast cancer screening such as marital status and having health insurance (P < .05). Additionally, there were associations between obstacles to screening and geographic region such as transportation and not having enough information about screenings (P < .05). Educational interventions aimed at improving breast cancer knowledge and screening rates should incorporate information about obstacles and predictors to screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Health Administration and Health Sciences, Tennessee State University, 330 10th Avenue North, Suite D-411, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA, kpatel1@Tnstate.edu.
authors.forename: Kushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanu
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Brea
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Theriot
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology