Breast Cancer Screening Disparities in African American Women

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityThe incidence of breast cancer in African American women is lower than Caucasian women. However, the death rate from breast cancer in African American women is much higher. The reason for the high mortality rate from breast cancer has multiple factors. Socio-economic factors and common beliefs and attitudes all contribute to this health disparity. This article focuses on the role of beliefs and attitudes to breast cancer screening in African American women. Fear, fatalism, mistrust of the healthcare system,myths and lack of knowledge about cancer are characteristics of common healthcare attitudes in the African American community. Strategies that have been effective in addressing this disparity and the clinical implication of these barriers to nurse practitioners are discussed