PURPOSE

This study measured the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics on health and cultural beliefs related to mammography.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Interviews were conducted during 2003 and 2004 in a Midwestern urban area.

SUBJECTS

Subjects were 344 low-income African-American women 40 years and older who had not had mammography within the previous 18 months.

MEASURES

The instrument measured personal characteristics, belief and knowledge scales, and participants' mammography experience and plans.

ANALYSIS

Multiple regression analysis assessed the effect of specific demographic and clinical characteristics on each of the scale values and on subjects' stages of readiness to change.

RESULTS

The subjects' levels of education significantly affected six of the 12 belief and knowledge scales. Higher-educated women felt less susceptible to breast cancer, had higher self-efficacy, had less fear, had lower fatalism scores, were less likely to be present-time oriented, and were more knowledgeable about breast cancer. Older women felt they were less susceptible to breast cancer, had higher fatalism scores, were more present-time oriented, and were less knowledgeable about breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that mammography promotion programs for African-Americans should consider the education levels and ages of the target women to be most effective.