Mammography utilization rates among young white and black women in the USA

To determine mammography utilization rates for randomly selected white and black women in the USA.

This was an observational study using data from 1988 to 2000. Data were extracted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual self-report telephone survey conducted nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The main outcome measure was the mammography utilization rates of women ages 18-40 years responding to 'Have you ever had a mammogram?'. In total, 354097 women were included in this study [310336 (87.6%) white women and 43761 (12.4%) black women].

In women ages 18-33, black women showed consistently higher mammography utilization rates than white women. Utilization rates among women ages 18-23 years were 20.0% and 11.0% for black and white women, respectively. Among women ages 24-29 years, rates were 22.2% and 11.5% for black and white women, respectively. For women ages 30-33 years, rates were 25.7% and 18.1% for black and white women, respectively. Utilization rates were similar in black and white women over 33 years of age.

This study found that young black women were receiving more mammography screening than young white women between 1988-2000. This may be due to the increased risk of fibroid masses in young black women.