Journal of General Practice

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Behaviors of African American Sexual Minority Women

Abstract

Alicia K Matthews, Chien-Ching Li1, Natalie Ross, Jodi Ram BA, Rebecca Ramsey MPH and Frances Aranda

Background: African American women experience elevated risk for breast and cervical cancer compared to White women. Health risk behaviors and cancer screening practices are known to contribute to cancer disparities; however, little is known about the relationship between race, sexual orientation, and cancer risk. The objective of this paper is to report on engagement in a range of health risk behaviors associated with cancer and adherence to cancer screening guidelines among African American Women sexual minority women. Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Data were collected using a self-administered survey instrument. Participants (N=226) were a convenience sample of urban African American sexual minority women recruited as part of a community health needs assessment study. Results: Cancer risk behaviors were prevalent including high rates of obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use. Despite these health risk behaviors, perceptions of cancer risk were low. Eight-five percent of women over the age of forty reported ever having a mammogram and 69% reported having the screening examine in the previous year. The majority of participants reported ever having a Pap test but reports of past year screening were low (68%). Predictors of ever having a mammogram were older age and having a physician recommendation to screen. Past year mammography was associated with perceived cancer risk with those reporting higher perceived risk less likely to have been screened in the past year. None of our study variables were associated with adherence to cervical cancer screening guidelines. Conclusions: Study findings suggest the need for increased efforts to reduce cancer risk behaviors and to encourage adherence to routine cancer screening among African American sexual minority women. Provider recommendations play an important role in breast cancer screening adherence. Additional research is needed to better understand barriers and facilitators to adherence to cervical cancer screening in this population.