The Association of Social Support and Education With Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Abstract

Background. Disparities in breast and cervical cancer screening by socioeconomic status persist in the United States. It has been suggested that social support may facilitate screening, especially among women of low socioeconomic status. However, at present, it is unclear whether social support enables mammogram and Pap test compliance. Purpose. This study examines the association between social support and compliance with mammogram and Pap test screening guidelines, and whether social support provides added value for women of low education. Method. Data were from a countywide 2009-2010 population-based survey, which included records of 2,588 women 40 years and older (mammogram) and 2,123 women 21 to 65 years old (Pap test). Compliance was determined using the guidelines in effect at the time of data collection. Results. Social support was significantly related to mammogram (adjusted odds ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [1.16, 1.77]) and Pap test (adjusted odds ratio = 1.71; 95% confidence interval [1.27, 2.29]) compliance after controlling for age, race, having a regular health care provider, and insurance status. The interaction between social support and education had a significant effect on Pap test compliance only among women younger than 40; the effect was not significant for mammogram compliance. Conclusion. Social support is associated with breast and cervical cancer screening compliance. The association between education and cancer screening behavior may be moderated by social support; however, results hold only for Pap tests among younger women. Practitioners and researchers should focus on interventions that activate social support networks as they may help increase both breast and cervical cancer screening compliance among women with low educational attainment.

Differential uptake of recent Papanicolaou testing by HPV vaccination status among young women in the United States, 2008–2013

“…Current smokers in our study population were also less likely to have initiated HPV vaccination. Further, the unvaccinated may have experienced a lower level of social support; social support has been shown to be associated with Pap test compliance [21]. Though not assessed in this study (pertinent questions not asked in all data years), another study noted that women who reported having routine Pap tests were more likely to have heard of HPV [22].…”

“…Given that younger women were closer to the recommended age for routine HPV vaccination [13] and older women may have had a pre-established routine of Pap testing, we accounted for age (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). We defined race/ethnicity as four categories: non-Hispanic [NH] White, NH Black, Hispanic, Asian/NH other (89.3% Asian).…”

Direct Interaction with Cervical Cancer Patient, Husband Support and Self Perceived as Determinant Factors on Women’s Desire for Screening VIA test

“…Husband support helped his wife solve pressure and effect about their health status and clinical assessment by direct path shown on health belief model theory. 21,29 Women who had support from their husband were more likely to take screening by 3.05 times compared to women who did not have support from their husband. 30,31 The problem addressed the involvement and participation from men, but this case was very inadequate because women's health was imposed for their self-awareness-culture, economic factor, and knowledge.…”

Social connectedness and engagement in preventive health services: an analysis of data from a prospective cohort study

“…Being married or living with a partner is also associated with participation in cancer screening;12, 13 however, evidence is conflicting with some studies finding no association or an inverse association between social connectedness and engagement in preventive health services 14, 15, 16. Marital status has been a focus of these studies, with the functional dimension having received much less attention than has the structural dimension, and studies of social support primarily only include women 17, 18. Studies are predominantly cross-sectional, and, to our knowledge, length of exposure to or dynamics of social connectedness, which might be important in mid-to-late adulthood with changing employment and social roles, have not been explored in relation to preventive health care.…”