CANCER PREVENTION BEHAVIORS AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADULTS - A SURVEY OF WARDS 7 AND 8 IN WASHINGTON, DC

A telephone survey of knowledge, attitude, and health practices regard ing cancer was undertaken in wards 7 and 8, Washington, DC in 1988. Th ese wards have the highest cancer rates in the city and are predominan tly African American. Of the 670 randomly selected persons over 18 yea rs of age, 243 were males and 427 were females. Among females, 84% bel ieved cigarette smoking causes cancer, and 48% thought alcohol causes cancer; 31% smoked cigarettes and 38% consumed alcoholic beverages. Am ong males, 91% and 52% thought cigarettes and alcohol causes cancer re spectively; 41% smoked and 54% consumed alcoholic beverages. Only 6% o f the males over age 40 practiced all eight recommended cancer prevent ion behaviors, while 2% of the females over age 40 practiced all preve ntive health behaviors. Cancer preventive behavior was examined in rel ation to socioeconomic status. This study indicates that preventive he alth behaviors were not associated with socioeconomic status. Data sug gest that cancer prevention and control programs and services targeted to this Washington, DC population should be increased and intensified .