A STUDY OF BREAST-CANCER DETECTION PRACTICES AND BELIEFS IN BLACK-WOMEN ATTENDING PUBLIC-HEALTH CLINICS

In this study, breast cancer knowledge, beliefs and practices in low i ncome black women were examined. First, focus groups were held with a total of 33 participants. Information gathered from the focus groups w as used to develop a telephone survey which was partially based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and administered to 92 subjects. Utilizatio n rates of mammography and breast self-examination (BSE) were quite hi gh; 66.3% of survey participants reported having at least one mammogra m and 72.5% performed BSE. Because low-cost mammograms were available to the survey participants, these results suggest that women in this t arget population will utilize accessible and affordable mammograms. Se veral knowledge deficiencies that need to be addressed were also ident ified. Most of the health beliefs were not significantly associated wi th mammography or BSE utilization. Because the HBM has never been exte nsively tested on this population, its appropriateness as a behavior m odel for low-income women is examined. Implications for future researc h and interventions are discussed.