TITLE:
Perceptions and Receipt of Cancer Screening among African Americans: A Community Networks Program Project
AUTHORS:
Sylvie A. Akohoue, Donna Kenerson, Zudi-Mwak Takizala, Katina Beard, Marilyn Burress, Helen Pinkerton, Jianguo Liu, Kushal Patel, Margaret Hargreaves
KEYWORDS:
Cancer Screening, Barriers, Facilitators, African Americans
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.6 No.4,
November
24,
2016
ABSTRACT: Objective: Minority groups constitute one
of the nation’s highest cancer risk groups. Historically, these groups have not
been adequately informed about cancer, its prevention and/or treatment. The
purpose of this study was to examine participants’ receipt of cancer screening
and to explore perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of cancer screening.
Methods: A two-part study design consisting of a survey and focus group was
conducted among African Americans residents of neighborhoods geographically
defined as low-income areas of Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville in the state
of Tennessee. The survey was administered to 1071 participants, and 12 focus
groups were conducted with a total of 112 participants, with both sets of participants
being residents of similarly defined underserved communities served by the
community health centers. Results: Overall, 51% of surveyed respondents were
females; the majority (75%) had a yearly income of less than $25,000; and 67%
reported 12 years of education or less. Most surveyed respondents had a family
history of cancer. More than 30% and 64% of male respondents over 50 years old
did not receive prostate cancer and colorectal cancer screening, respectively;
58% of women 50 years and older were not screened for colorectal cancer; 28% of
women over 40 years old did not receive breast cancer screening. Barriers to
cancer screening included: lack of information about cancer screening and
treatments, cost of cancer treatment and fear. The need for more information
about cancer and cancer treatment, as well as the involvement of churches to
increase cancer screening awareness was identified as facilitators. Conclusion:
This study provides information into the structural and psychological barriers in
cancer screening. It describes the self-reported prevalence/frequency of
screening among men and women in our target population, and the associated
facilitators to screening.