Screening Mammography Among Chinese Canadian Women

Abstract

Though breast cancer is the most common malignancy among Chinese women, screening mammography is underutilized. This study examined barriers and facilitators of screening mammography among Chinese Canadian women.Using community-based sampling, Chinese women in British Columbia were interviewed in 1999 about multiple preventive health behaviours. We included 213 women in the mammography analysis; main outcome measures were ever having a mammogram and routine mammography.Seventy-five percent of women 50 to 79 years old reported ever having had a mammogram, and 53% had two or more mammograms within the last five years. Receiving a recommendation for a mammogram from medical personnel or from a family member, and believing that cancer cannot be prevented by faith were independently associated with both screening outcomes.A multifaceted approach to screening mammography promotion in Chinese Canadian women is suggested. Interventions that include education of and by medical providers and family members should be considered.