An Investigation of the Facilitative and Inhibitory Variables Impacting Breast Health Practices in Low-Socioeconomic Status Black Women of African-American and Caribbean Descent
Abstract
Black women of low-socioeconomic status (SES) demonstrate a high incidence of breast cancer mortality associated with late. stage diagnosis. Breast cancer screening, including mammography, breast self-examination, and clinical breast examination, remains the most effective route to early cancer detection. Studies indicate poor adherence to breast cancer screening regimens among low-income minority women. An overall objective of the study is the construction of models that can explain screening practices in low-SES black women. This will be accomplished in two separate waves. In the first wave, facilitators and barriers to breast cancer screening participation among low-SES women of African-American and Caribbean descent will be determined through qualitative interview. This approach intends to provide a voice for the concerns and experiences guiding these women in their screening choices. The current study incorporates an approach-avoidance theoretical framework that considers preventive screening behaviors to be both desirable and aversive. Based on the factors provided by the respondents in the first wave of the study, culturally-sensitive Q-Sort instrumentation will be designed that will allow participants to rank order these factors as facilitators or barriers and therefore, provide a powerful approach to testing the theoretical paradigm. Finally, innovative modeling techniques will be applied to determine the strength of models to explain breast health care practices among low-SES Black women, either as idiopathic to the general population of low-SES Black women or specific to African-American or Caribbean cultural groups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA391282
Entities
People
- Kathryn C. Lasorsa
- Theresa Jordan
Organizations
- New York University