Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2011: 09_0185

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Differences in Knowledge of Breast Cancer Screening Among African American, Arab American, and Latina Women
Karen Patricia Williams, PhD; Athur Mabiso, MS; David Todem, PhD; Adnan Hammad, PhD; Yolanda Hill-Ashford, MSW; Hiam Hamade, MA, RN; Gloria Palamisono, MA; Murlisa Robinson-Lockett, MA; Ruth E. Zambrana, PhD

Suggested citation for this article: Williams KP, Mabiso A, Todem D, Hammad A, Hill-Ashford Y, Hamade H, et al. Differences in knowledge of breast cancer screening among African American, Arab American, and Latina women. Prev Chronic Dis 2011;8(1). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/jan/09_0185.htm. Accessed [date].

PEER REVIEWED
Abstract

Introduction
We examined differences in knowledge and socioeconomic factors associated with 3 types of breast cancer screening (breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, and mammogram) among African American, Arab, and Latina women.

Methods
Community health workers used a community-based intervention to recruit 341 women (112 Arab, 113 Latina, and 116 African American) in southeastern Michigan to participate in a breast cancer prevention intervention from August through October 2006. Before and after the intervention, women responded to a previously validated 5-item multiple-choice test on breast cancer screening (possible score range: 0 to 5) in their language of preference (English, Spanish, or Arabic). We used generalized estimating equations to analyze data and to account for family-level and individual correlations.

Results
Although African American women knew more about breast cancer screening at the baseline (pretest median scores were 4 for African American, 3 for Arab and 3 for Latina women), all groups significantly increased their knowledge after participating in the breast cancer prevention intervention (posttest median scores were 5 for African American and 4 for Arab and Latina women). Generalized estimating equations models show that Arab and Latina women made the most significant gains in posttest scores (P < .001).

Conclusion
Racial/ethnic differences in knowledge of breast cancer screening highlight the need for tailored information on breast cancer screening for African American, Arab, and Latina women to promote adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines.

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Preventing Chronic Disease: January 2011: 09_0185