Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to describe Iranian immigrant
women's knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards breast cancer,
and their breast cancer screening behaviors. Specifically, this
research examined the predictors of age-specific breast cancer
screening participation among this population. The participants in
this study consisted (n=34 1) of self-identified first generation
immigrant Iranian women who were born and/or lived in Iran
before they migrated to the United States and were recruited
through a snowball sampling technique. The inclusion criteria for
the participants were: a) women between the ages of 30-80 years
who lived in California, b) women were able to read and speak
English and/or Persian. Survey data was entered using SPSS, and
was analyzed using descriptive univariate frequencies and
bivariate cross tabulations. The Chi square statistic was used to
test the significance of bivariate cross-tabulations at a.05.
Secondly, Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of
women's breast cancer screening. Logistic regression using the
method of likelihood estimation was conducted to identify the
most important predictors after adjusting for other variables (P>.05
for removal from model). The logistic regression results appear as
odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. In general
screening rates for CBE and mammography among the
participants in the current study were higher than levels set in the
year 2010 Health Objectives and those reported for women
nationally. These findings are inconsistent with previous studies
on immigrant women living in the United States which indicate
low rates of screening compared with the predominantly white
populations and even lower rates of screening among first
generation immigrants. The comparatively lower BSE compliance
rates are in contrast with the higher annual age specific CBE and
mammography rates. However, the low rate of BSE practice is
consistent with previous findings from other studies on immigrant
women's screening behaviors. Research regarding breast cancer
screening behaviors of Middle Eastern women remains very limited
and studies about breast cancer screening behaviors of Iranian
immigrant women are non-existent. This study was the first
attempt to address this research gap and provide a preliminary
understanding of the health practices in this understudied ethnic
group. This information will in turn provide suggestions for more
focused ethnic specific health promotion programs to increase
breast cancer screening behavior among this population.
