title: Disparities in receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening for rural women age 18 to 64 with disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has found breast and cervical cancer screening disparities between women with and without disabilities, and between women living in rural versus urban areas. Living in a rural area may add to the barriers women with disabilities experience when attempting to obtain screening for breast and cervical cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the combination of disability status and rurality in association with receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening among women age 18 to 64 in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted cross-sectional analyses of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, using pooled annual data files from 2002 through 2008. We compared recent receipt of breast and cervical cancer screening among four groups: 1) urban women without disabilities, 2) urban women with disabilities, 3) rural women without disabilities, and 4) rural women with disabilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, women with disabilities were less likely to be up to date with mammograms and Pap tests compared with women with no disabilities. Similarly, women in rural areas were less likely to have received breast or cervical cancer screening within recommended timeframes. Women who both had a disability and lived in a rural area were the least likely to be current with screening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that living in rural regions compounds disparities in receipt of cancer screening among women with disabilities. Increased attention is needed to improve receipt of cancer screening among rural women with disabilities.
authors: Institute on Development & Disability, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon. Electronic address: hornerjo@ohsu.edu.
authors: Willi
authors: W
authors: Horner-Johnson
authors: Institute on Development & Disability, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors: Konrad
authors: K
authors: Dobbertin
authors: Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Lisa I
authors: LI
authors: Iezzoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult