Influences on breast cancer screening behaviors in Tamil immigrant women 50 years old and over

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2001

Volume

6

Issue

3-4

First page number:

179

Last page number:

188

Abstract

Objective: To investigate, using the Health Belief Model as a theoretical framework, the incentives and barriers to breast cancer screening in a recent immigrant group, older Tamil women from Sri Lanka.

Method: Tamil women who had had a mammogram and Tamil women who had never had a mammogram were compared on the following variables: socio-demographics, personal risk estimates for breast cancer, risk-reduction expectancies, beliefs and knowledge about breast cancer and screening recommendations, and acculturation.

Results: Groups differed significantly in terms of education, years living in North America, acculturation, and beliefs/knowledge about breast cancer. When education and acculturation were controlled, perceived barriers to mammography were most predictive of mammography utilization.

Discussion: Results are discussed with a view to developing culture-appropriate educational campaigns.

Keywords

Breast--Cancer—Prevention; Breast--Cancer--Psychological aspects; Breast cancer screening; Mammography; Medical screening; Women; Tamil; Women immigrants

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Counseling Psychology | Health Psychology | Medicine and Health | Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychology

Language

English

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