African American Beliefs

Running head: HEALTH BELIEFS AND SCREENING IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

Health Beliefs and Breast Cancer Screening in African American Women
Linda M. Frazier, RN, MSN, FNP-C
Medical College of Georgia
School of Graduate Studies

Health Beliefs and Breast Cancer Screening in African American Women Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. More than 211, 000 U.S. women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and at least 40, 400 women died as a result of the disease (MacDonald, Sarna, Uman, Grant, & Weitzel, 2006). Breast cancer crosses all demographic lines, affecting women of all ages, races, ethnic groups, socioeconomic strata and geographic locales. Breast cancer
These decreases have primarily been seen in non-Hispanic white women. Despite the abundance of health information regarding breast cancer screening and early detection, breast cancer mortality rates in African American women has changed little (Smith-Bindman, et.al., 2006). The five-year survival rate is 69 percent for African American women and 84 percent for Caucasian women (Belin, Washington, & Greebe, 2006; Tammemagi, Nerenz, Neslund-Dudas, Feldkamp, & Nathanson,
These findings were confirmed in an epidemiologic report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NHS, 2001) (52 % versus 57%) (Fowler et al, 2006). Evident from 10-year tracking data from the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which provides free or no-cost mammography screening and follow-up breast health services for women who are unemployed or employed in minimal-wage jobs without health insurance coverage. The findings showed that African American women compared to non-Hispanic, Caucasian women obtained significantly fewer mammography screenings (17% versus 60%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC],