MAMMOGRAPHY UTILIZATION AND RELATED ATTITUDES AMONG KOREAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to assess mammography utilization among Korean-American women and to identify their knowledge, attitudes and b arriers related to screening. Face-to-face interviews were conducted i n the Korean language with a convenience sample of 229 predominantly l ow-income Korean women 50 years and older residing in Los Angeles. For ty-nine percent had ever had a mammogram, 24% had had a screening mamm ogram in the past 12 months, and 36% had had one in the past two years . Variables positively related to ''ever had a screening mammogram'' i ncluded: having health insurance; income greater than or equal to $25, 000; having received a physician's recommendation to obtain a mammogra m; holding positive group norms; longer duration of residency in the U .S.; and greater acculturation. Variables negatively related to screen ing included: concerns about finding cancer; taking time to get a mamm ogram; transportation; embarrassment; and discomfort requesting the pr ocedure from the physician. Strategies to increase mammography utiliza tion among Korean-American women are discussed.