American Women's Beliefs Research Articles

Vietnamese American Women's Beliefs and Perceptions About Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Screening: A Community-Based Participatory Study.

Although breast cancer (BC) rates are declining in White non-Hispanic American women, they are increasing among Vietnamese American women (VAW) at 1.2% (95% confidence interval [0.1, 2.2]) per year. BC screening rates (64%) are below the national rates (81.1%). This article explores VAW's beliefs about BC and screening. Using community-based participatory qualitative descriptive methods, 40 VAW were recruited from Oregon, and four focus groups were conducted. A directed content analysis was used. Main themes were as follows: deferred to a health care provider or relying on self-detection and symptoms; fear of BC versus fear of procedural pain; limited knowledge; motivation by observing others' journey in BC death or survivorship; body image concern; "living carefree," "good fortune-having good health"; and coverage for a mammogram expense means health care access. Tailored interventions should address mammogram knowledge, fear, erroneous information, body image, fate and luck, and promoting access.

The role of familism in weight loss treatment for Mexican American women.

Mexican American women are disproportionately affected by overweight/obesity and the health complications accompanying them, but weight loss treatments are less successful in this ethnic group. High levels of familism, a value reflecting obligation to family that supersedes attention to oneself, interfere with weight loss for Mexican American women. This mixed methods study investigated overweight Mexican American women's beliefs about how familism, and Mexican American culture, might hinder weight loss success, and how treatments might be culturally adapted. Results suggest a need to support women in their commitment to family while also helping them make changes. Recommendations for culturally adapted treatments are made.

Abstract B85: Chinese American women's beliefs in mammogram.

Abstract Objectives: From the Theory of Planned Action (TPA), a woman's intention to have a mammogram can be determined by three factors: the woman's attitudes toward breast cancer screening, the social normative influence of the people who are important in her life, and her perception of the ease with having a mammogram. These determinants are from corresponding sets of beliefs. TPA posits that individual behavior is driven by behavioral intention. Thus, a woman's beliefs in mammogram will influence her intention toward screening, and eventually to carry out the behavior. The purpose of this study is to explore beliefs in mammogram among Chinese American women and to examine how these beliefs influence screening intention. Methods: A total of 212 participants were recruited from a homemaker program at a Chinese community-based organization located in the Midwest. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their beliefs in mammogram prior to an educational program on breast cancer screening. The questionnaire was developed by modifying Rakowski's Decisional Balance Scale on Mammography, which included six positive statements and six negative statements. A belief score was calculated by adding all 12 scores from each item. A higher belief score indicated that the participant has more positive beliefs. Screening behaviors were measured by asking participants whether they had a mammogram in the past 10 years, and whether they planned to have a mammogram in the next 1 to 2 years. Results: Sixty-two percent of the participants reported that they had a mammogram in the past 10 years and nearly 78% intended to have a mammogram within the next 1-2 years. Participants who were younger (p = .045) and who had more years of education (p = .039) were more likely to plan to have a mammogram in the next 1-2 years. The belief score was significantly associated with participants' history of breast cancer screening (p < .0005), yearly family income (p = .03) and years of education (p = .01). Both belief score and having a mammogram in the past significantly predicted the intention to have a mammogram in the next 1-2 years, and accounted for 25% (Cox & Snell) to 38% (Nagelkerke) of the variances. Even after considering for years of education and age, both predictors remained significant (p < .0005). Conclusion: Our study finds that Chinese American women's beliefs in mammogram not only had a significant impact on their past breast cancer screening but also their intention to have a mammogram in the future. Chinese American women who had more positive beliefs in mammogram were more likely to have a mammogram in the past 10 years and plan to have a mammogram in the next 1 – 2 years. Having a mammogram in the past and having more positive beliefs in mammogram significantly predicted the intention to have a mammogram, even after controlling for years of education and age. Citation Format: Helen Vallina, Karen Kim. Chinese American women's beliefs in mammogram. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B85.

Beliefs About Racism and Health Among African American Women With Diabetes: A Qualitative Study

Exposure to racism has been linked to poor health outcomes. Little is known about the impact of racism on diabetes outcomes. This study explored African American women's beliefs about how racism interacts with their diabetes self-management and control. Four focus groups were conducted with a convenience sample of 28 adult African American women with type 2 diabetes who were recruited from a larger quantitative study on racism and diabetes. The focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by the authors. Women reported that exposure to racism was a common phenomenon, and their beliefs did in fact link racism to poor health. Specifically, women reported that exposure to racism caused physiological arousal including cardiovascular and metabolic perturbations. There was consensus that physiological arousal was generally detrimental to health. Women also described limited, and in some cases maladaptive, strategies to cope with racist events, including eating unhealthy food choices and portions. There was consensus that the subjective nature of perceiving racism and accompanying social prohibitions often made it impossible to address racism directly. Many women described anger in such situations and the tendency to internalize anger and other negative emotions, only to find that the negative emotions would be reactivated repeatedly with exposure to novel racial stressors, even long after the original racist event remitted. African American women in this study believed that racism affects their diabetes self-management and control. Health beliefs can exert powerful effects on health behaviors and may provide an opportunity for health promotion interventions in diabetes.

Older African American Women's Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer poses a greater risk for African American than Caucasian women due to persistent health disparities. To reduce mortality risk, culturally specific knowledge is needed to support and encourage regular breast cancer screening and risk-reduction behaviors in older African American women. The specific aims of this study were to identify social, cultural, and behavioral factors associated with regular participation in breast cancer screening and risk-reduction behaviors; examine health beliefs that may influence regular participation in breast cancer screening and risk-reduction behaviors; and identify perceived facilitators and barriers to regular breast cancer screening and risk-reduction behaviors. African American women older than 65 (N = 57) participated in six focus groups. Analysis of focus group data revealed six major themes: Being Blessed, Cancer as a Death Sentence, Fear/Fear of Disfigurement, Avoiding Finding Out, Beliefs About Breast Cancer, and Tending to One's Family. These themes could be used by health care providers to develop culturally relevant educational initiatives to promote breast health practices and risk-reduction behaviors in this vulnerable population, thus helping reduce breast cancer disparities.

“You Don't Go Tell White People Nothing”: African American Women's Perspectives on the Influence of Violence and Race on Depression and Depression Care

We sought to understand how African American women's beliefs regarding depression and depression care are influenced by racism, violence, and social context. We conducted a focus group study using a community-based participatory research approach. Participants were low-income African American women with major depressive disorder and histories of violence victimization. Thirty women participated in 4 focus groups. Although women described a vicious cycle of violence, depression, and substance abuse that affected their health, discussions about health care revolved around their perception of racism, with a deep mistrust of the health care system as a "White" system. The image of the "strong Black woman" was seen as a barrier to both recognizing depression and seeking care. Women wanted a community-based depression program staffed by African Americans that addressed violence and drug use. Although violence and drug use were central to our participants' understanding of depression, racism was the predominant issue influencing their views on depression care. Providers should develop a greater appreciation of the effects of racism on depression care. Depression care programs should address issues of violence, substance use, and racism.

African American women's beliefs about mental illness, stigma, and preferred coping behaviors

We examined African American women's representations/beliefs about mental illness, preferred coping behaviors if faced with mental illness, whether perceived stigma was associated with treatment-seeking, and if so, whether it was related to beliefs and coping preference, and whether these variables differed by age group. Participants were 185 community-dwelling African American women 25 to 85 years of age. Results indicated the women believed that mental illness is caused by several factors, including family-related stress and social stress due to racism, is cyclical, and has serious consequences but can be controlled by treatment. Participants endorsed low perceptions of stigma. Major preferred coping strategies included praying and seeking medical and mental health care. Age differences were found in all variables except stigma.

Korean American Women's Beliefs About Breast and Cervical Cancer and Associated Symbolic Meanings

To explore Korean American women's symbolic meanings related to their breasts and cervix, to examine attitudes and beliefs about breast and cervical cancer, and to find relationships between the participants' beliefs and their cancer screening behaviors. Descriptive, qualitative analysis. Southwestern United States. 33 Korean-born women at least 40 years of age. In-depth, face-to-face, individual interviews were conducted in Korean. A semistructured interview guide was used to ensure comparable core content across all interviews. Transcribed and translated interviews were analyzed using descriptive content analysis. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, cancer screening, beliefs, and Korean American women. Korean American women's symbolic meaning of their breasts and cervix are closely related to their past experiences of bearing and rearing children. Negative life experiences among older Korean American women contributed to negative perceptions about cervical cancer. Having information about cancer, either correct or incorrect, and having faith in God or destiny may be barriers to obtaining screening tests. Korean American women's symbolic meanings regarding their breasts and cervix, as well as their beliefs about breast cancer and cervical cancer and cancer screening, are associated with their cultural and interpersonal contexts. Their beliefs or limited knowledge appear to relate to their screening behaviors. Interventions that carefully address Korean American women's beliefs about breast cancer and cervical cancer as well as associated symbolic meanings may increase their cancer screening behaviors. Clinicians should consider Korean American women's culture-specific beliefs and representations as well as their life experiences in providing care for the population.

“Why don't they come to Pike street and ask us”?: Black American women's health concerns

It is well known that black American women are poorly represented in medically oriented research and that this has far reaching implications for their personal health, the health of their families and the overall health of the larger society. The research reported was premised on the assumption that learning more about black American women's beliefs and values regarding health and illness could inform public policy initiatives in the area of cancer prevention and control so that a more equitable basis for participation could be achieved in future medical and scientific research. Qualitative methods of research were used in this investigation. A semi-structured interview guide was used in 36 h. of in-depth and face-to-face interviews with 13 black American women recruited to the study using a snowball technique. The women interviewed were middle-class, professional and semi-professional women. The results of the study indicate that there is a poor understanding by the dominant white medical community concerning the beliefs and values of black patients and that this compromises their health and illness care. The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is often used as the rationale for the low recruitment of black women into clinical trials — both therapeutic and non-therapeutic. The women interviewed do not agree with this claim. These women suggest that if they were asked to participate in trials and the trial was relevant to their primary medical concerns they would consider joining. The research results indicate the importance of using specific research methodologies and a number of recommendations are presented.