MAMMOGRAPHY AND CLINICAL BREAST EXAMINATION AMONG KOREAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN 2 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES

Background Mammography and clinical breast examination (CBF) are under utilized, especially by women from some racial/ethnic minorities. Few published studies of screening practices or correlates for these subgr oups exist. Methods. A population-based telephone survey of 1,090 Kore an Americans living in two California counties was conducted. To produ ce population estimates of mammography and CBE testing, we adjusted fr equencies to account for different selection probabilities. Multivaria ble logistic regression was performed to determine independent correla tes of testing. Results. Only 34% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 30%, 39%] of Korean American women age 50 and older were estimated to have had a mammogram in the past 2 years. Only 32% (95% CI 28%, 37%) had ha d a CBE in the past 2 years. The strongest independent correlate of te sting was having a regular medical checkup [odds ratio (OR) for mammog ram = 9.21, 95% CI 3.98, 21.35; OR for CBE = 11.58, 95% CI 4.71, 28.46 ]. Conclusions. These estimates are lower than the Healthy People 2000 objectives as well as published estimates for other populations in th e United States. Planning and implementing tailored programs to improv e screening are best done using a community-sensitive approach, which, because racial/ethnic subgroups are growing, will assume increasing p ublic health importance.