Correlates of Breast Cancer Screening in Arab Muslim Women Living in the United States

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women, with mammography being the most efficient at detecting early-stage breast cancer. Arab Muslim women living in the United States are an understudied minority group with cultural differences that may influence their utilization of mammography. Objective: Guided by the Neuman Systems Model, this study aimed to determine correlates of using mammography, including acculturation, modesty, and breast cancer knowledge, of Arab Muslim women living in New England aged 40 years and older. Interventions/Methods: A correlational study design was used with 118 Arab Muslim women with a survey that included sociodemographic data, acculturation, Islamic modesty, and breast cancer knowledge scales. Results: The screening rate for women aged 50 years and older was statistically significant in comparison to the Center for Disease Control report (2018) (Z = −2.15, P < .01). Multivariate analysis revealed that modesty (odds ratio = 0.90; confidence interval [0.81-0.99]; P = 0.04), decreased length of stay in the United States (r = 0.34; P < .01), and the use of the Arabic language in the survey (r = −0.20; P < .05) were negatively associated with mammography use. Conclusions: Educational and cultural factors may influence use of mammography screening by Arab Muslim women living in the United States. Implications for Practice: The study findings underscore the need for a better understanding of modesty by health care providers to enhance use of mammography by Arab Muslim women. What is Foundational: Cultural, educational, and religious variables may be drivers of decreased mammography use in minority women. Barriers to breast cancer detection can be overcome by improving sensitivity to such variables.