Assessing screening mammography utilization in an urban area

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Screening mammography is crucial for early breast cancer detection.
• Understanding predictors of mammography use is vital for targeted interventions.
• South Central Los Angeles has a predominantly African American and Hispanic population with potential disparities in healthcare access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of screening mammography utilization among women aged 40+ in South Central Los Angeles.
• To compare mammography rates in this population to national estimates.
• To inform strategies for improving breast cancer screening adherence.

Main Methods:

• A 54-item questionnaire was administered to 505 women aged 40+ using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) software and Random Digit Dialing (RDD).
• The Health Belief Model guided questionnaire design.
• Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish.

Main Results:

• 81.8% of participants reported ever having a mammogram; African Americans had the lowest utilization rate (74.7%).
• Logistic regression identified significant predictors for both "ever users" (4 variables) and "never users" (6 variables) of mammography.
• Mammography utilization in this sample was lower than in the general population.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions are needed to address lower screening mammography rates in this demographic.
• Physician referrals and accessible, affordable mammograms can improve screening rates, especially for uninsured women in their 40s.
• Addressing health insurance status and physician recommendations are key to enhancing breast cancer screening adherence.