ABSTRACT
A two-group comparison pilot study was conducted with 60 (N = 60) U.S. born African-American women to determine the factors associated with decreased utilization of mammography among women who have access to mammography services, yet choose not to utilize them. Findings from the study suggest that African-American acculturation and Health Temporal Orientation were significantly associated with mammography utilization (p = 0.01). There was no significant relationship between other cultural beliefs, health-care avoidance, or sociodemographic status indicators. Six content areas also emerged from a focus group discussion associated with barriers/factors related to mammography utilization. Findings from this study also suggest that further research and outreach is needed to address the development of tailored interventions to increase the rate of mammography utilization and reduce the incidence and mortality related to breast cancer in African-American women.
