Abstract
Despite benefits of screening mammography, many South Asian (SA) immigrant women in Canada remain under screened. We aimed
to elicit their experiences and beliefs about barriers to mammography and possible solutions. SA immigrant women aged 50 years
or over were eligible if they never had a mammogram or had one more than 3 years ago. We employed the participatory mixed-method
approach of Concept Mapping. Sixty women participated with a mean age of 58 years. Participants brainstormed 150 items which
were consolidated into 67 items. After sorting and rating, cluster analysis revealed eight clusters of barriers on knowledge,
fear, language and transportation, access to mammogram center, access to doctor, beliefs and practices, self-care, and family
dependence. Participants discussed possible solutions, and emphasized out-reach models to address knowledge gaps and issues
of language and transportation. One example was a community-based shuttle bus to screening centres, hosted by trained co-ethnic
workers. The results are discussed to enhance the socio-cultural sensitivity of breast screening programs.
to elicit their experiences and beliefs about barriers to mammography and possible solutions. SA immigrant women aged 50 years
or over were eligible if they never had a mammogram or had one more than 3 years ago. We employed the participatory mixed-method
approach of Concept Mapping. Sixty women participated with a mean age of 58 years. Participants brainstormed 150 items which
were consolidated into 67 items. After sorting and rating, cluster analysis revealed eight clusters of barriers on knowledge,
fear, language and transportation, access to mammogram center, access to doctor, beliefs and practices, self-care, and family
dependence. Participants discussed possible solutions, and emphasized out-reach models to address knowledge gaps and issues
of language and transportation. One example was a community-based shuttle bus to screening centres, hosted by trained co-ethnic
workers. The results are discussed to enhance the socio-cultural sensitivity of breast screening programs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9472-7
- Authors
- Farah Ahmad, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Division, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Room 582, Toronto, M5T 3M7 Canada
- Sadia Mahmood, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Division, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Room 582, Toronto, M5T 3M7 Canada
- Igor Pietkiewicz, Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
- Laura McDonald, Health Promotion, Ontario Breast Screening Program, Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Ophira Ginsburg, Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912