Attitudes of South Asian Women to Breast Health and Breast Cancer Screening: Findings from a Community Based Sample in the United States

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer incidence is increasing among South Asian migrants to the United States (US). However, their utilization of cancer screening services is poor. This study characterizes attitudes of South Asians towards breast health and screening in a community sample. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) was conducted among South Asians (n=124) in New Jersey and Chicago. The following beliefs and attitudes towards breast cancer screening were assessed-health motivation, breast self-examination confidence, breast cancer susceptibility and fear, and mammogram benefits and barriers. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were computed for HBM subscales. Findings: Mean age of participants was 36 years with an average 10 years stay in the US. Most women strived to care for their health (3.82±1.18) and perceived high benefits of screening mammography (3.94±0.95). However, they perceived lower susceptibility to breast cancer in the future (2.30±0.94). Conclusions: Increasing awareness of breast cancer risk for South Asian women may have a beneficial effect on cancer incidence because of their positive attitudes towards health and breast cancer screening. This is especially relevant because South Asians now constitute one of the largest minority populations in the US and their incidence of breast cancer is steadily increasing.

Cancer screening behaviours among South Asian immigrants in the UK, US and Canada: a scoping study

“…Among SA immigrant women of higher socioeconomic status, greater motivation to take care of one's health and confidence with performing breast self‐examination were associated with greater perceived benefits of mammography (Poonawalla et al . ).…”

“…; Poonawalla et al . ). Others believed that colorectal cancer was a predominantly male disease (Austin et al .…”

“…A higher self‐perceived susceptibility to cancer was also associated with enhanced fear (Poonawalla et al . ). Modesty, shyness, nervousness and physical discomfort all influenced decision‐making about breast and cervical cancer screening (Bottorff et al .…”

Cultural Beliefs and Attitudes About Breast Cancer and Screening Practices Among Arabic Women in Australia

“…1Y3 For this reason, extensive research efforts have been made to understand both the facilitators of and barriers to CALD women's participation in breast cancer screening practices. 4Y6 Compared with the numerous studies on Asian women in Western countries, 3,7,8 literature on breast cancer screening behaviors among Arab women either in their home countries or as immigrants to other countries is sparse, despite the fact that breast cancer is a serious health threat for them.…”

Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire: psychometric Properties of the Persian version

“…The major reasons behind delayed diagnosis of BC in Iran may be women's lack of knowledge, delays in seeking medical help, and failure to participate in BC screening programs 10 such as breast selfexamination, periodical medical visits, and mammography 11 . Women's participation in screening programs is affected by different factors, chie y their health beliefs 12 and health-related knowledge 13 , so that positive health beliefs and adequate health-related knowledge can increase participation in such programs 13 . In western countries, people have adequate health-related knowledge and positive health beliefs; thus, periodical health assessment in the absence of any health problem is a known concept to the public and a routine practice 14 .…”