Zorogastua Karent, Sriphanlop Pathu, Reich Alyssa, Aly Sarah, Cisse Aminata, Jandorf Lina
Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
AIMS Public Health. 2017 Feb 21;4(1):78-93. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2017.1.78. eCollection 2017.
Health disparities related to breast and cervical cancer among African American and African-born Muslim women in the United States have been identified in previous literature. Our study aimed at exploring the breast and cervical screening rates and factors that influence this population's disposition to adhere to cancer screening exams.
Mixed methods were used to collect data with African American and African-born Muslim women in New York City. Data were collected from a total of 140 women; among them, 40 participated in four focus groups.
Focus groups revealed nine themes: healthcare practices; lack of knowledge/misconceptions; negative perceptions and fear; time; modesty; role of religion; role of men; role of community; stigma and shame. Among 130 women who reported their cancer screening status, 72.3% of those age 21 and over were adherent to cervical cancer screening; 20.0% never had a Pap test. Among women age 40 and over, 80.2% reported adherence to recommended mammogram; 12.8% never had one. Among women under age 40, 52.2% had their last clinical breast exam (CBE) less than three years ago. Among women age 40 and over, 75.0% were adherent to yearly CBE.
While rates of screenings were above the national average and higher than expected, specific barriers and facilitators related to religious and health beliefs and attitudes that influence the decision to adhere to screening were revealed. These factors should be further explored and addressed to inform future research and strategies for promoting regular breast and cervical cancer screenings.
以往文献已证实美国非裔美国人和出生于非洲的穆斯林女性在乳腺癌和宫颈癌方面存在健康差异。我们的研究旨在探讨乳腺癌和宫颈癌筛查率以及影响该人群接受癌症筛查倾向的因素。
采用混合方法收集纽约市非裔美国人和出生于非洲的穆斯林女性的数据。共收集了140名女性的数据；其中40人参加了四个焦点小组。
焦点小组揭示了九个主题：医疗保健实践；知识缺乏/误解；负面认知和恐惧；时间；谦逊；宗教的作用；男性的作用；社区的作用；耻辱感。在报告了癌症筛查状况的130名女性中，21岁及以上的女性中有72.3%坚持进行宫颈癌筛查；20.0%从未做过巴氏试验。40岁及以上的女性中，80.2%报告坚持进行推荐的乳房X光检查；12.8%从未做过。40岁以下的女性中，52.2%在不到三年前进行了最后一次临床乳房检查（CBE）。40岁及以上的女性中，75.0%坚持每年进行CBE。
虽然筛查率高于全国平均水平且高于预期，但揭示了与宗教和健康信念及态度相关的、影响坚持筛查决定的具体障碍和促进因素。应进一步探讨和解决这些因素，以为未来促进定期乳腺癌和宫颈癌筛查的研究及策略提供信息。
