INCREASED USE OF MAMMOGRAPHY AMONG HISPANIC WOMEN - BASE-LINE RESULTSFROM THE NCI COOPERATIVE GROUP ON CANCER PREVENTION IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES

Background: The Healthy People 2000 report set the objective of increa sing the percentage of women 40 or older who had ever received a mammo gram and clinical breast examination to 80% by the year 2000. The repo rt used a baseline of 36% for all American women and 20% for Hispanic women. The purpose of this study was to compare baseline estimates wit h data obtained in five Hispanic communities. Methods: Common survey m easures were administered in five studies participating in a National Cancer Institute Cooperative agreement. The surveys evaluated history of mammography in five Hispanic communities in the southwestern Unites States. Results: Across the five communities, the rates of mammograph y use were significantly higher than the national baseline. Among wome n 40-49 years of age, 55% had completed mammography (95% confidence in terval [CI] = 52%, 57%). Among women 50 years of age or older, 64% had received a mammogram (95% CI = 62%, 66%). Older women (above age 50) were significantly more likely to have completed the test than younger women (younger than age 50), and mammography was obtained less often among women who were uninsured and those who had lower levels of accul turation. Conclusions: We conclude that the rate of mammography use am ong Hispanic women has increased significantly over the last few years and that we are on track to reach the goal of 80% mammography complia nce for Hispanic women 40 years and older by the year 2000.