Mammography use among women attending an inner-city clinic.

Abstract

Low-income, minority, and inner city women have breast cancer screening rates that are below those of the general population. The authors surveyed women who received primary care at Seattle's county hospital about their mammography behaviors in early 1995. Data were analyzed within the context of the PRECEDE framework. Only half (48%) of the women were obtaining regular screening. Breast cancer and mammography beliefs differed by racial group. The following factors differentiated between inner-city women who were and were not regular users: mammography beliefs concerning early detection of disease, pressure from the machine causing breast cancer, and cost (these were less important among white women than members of other racial groups); previous physician discussions, concerns about appointment scheduling, and transportation problems; and social support from physicians, family, and friends. Interventions to encourage regular screening among inner-city women should address predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors.