Using cultural beliefs and patterns to improve mammography utilization among African-American women: The Witness Project

Breast cancer and early detection of the disease is a significant issue for all women. Moreover, the sociocultural implications in the differential mo rtality rates increased interest in possible barriers to screening practice s. Recently, a number of studies have investigated African Americans' cultu ral beliefs associated with breast cancer. This study is based upon qualita tive focus group data gathered from 1989 to 1991 and 1996. This article pro vides focus group data that informed ct culturally competent community-base d cancer education program for African-American women-the Witness Project ( R). Analyses of the qualitative data along with the quantitative outcome da ta revealed a direct relationship between cultural beliefs and patterns wit h mammography utilization. The once perceived cultural barriers can actuall y be applied as a cultural intervention strategy to improve breast cancer s creening initiatives designed specifically for African-American women.