Economically disadvantaged females' perceptions of breast cancer and breast cancer screening.

This study examined 500 economically disadvantaged females' perceptions and screening practices regarding breast cancer. The vast majority of respondents did not identify themselves, or economically disadvantaged women in general, as more susceptible to breast cancer. Those who were the most knowledgeable about breast cancer were significantly more likely than the least knowledgeable to perceive themselves as more susceptible to breast cancer, to perceive breast cancer as less severe, to perceive fewer barriers, and to perceive more benefits to screening for breast cancer. Fifty-four percent of the women claimed they had previously had a mammogram. A series of t-tests were conducted to see if breast cancer knowledge or health beliefs would discriminate between those who had and those who had not had a mammogram. The only difference between the two groups was that those who had a mammogram were more likely to perceive greater benefits of mammography screening. The results of this survey indicate that there is considerable room for improvement in knowledge, perceptions, and practices of economically disadvantaged women regarding breast cancer.