Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening among Diverse Cultural Groups in Melbourne, Australia

Jonathan O’Hara, Crystal McPhee, Sarity Dodson, Annie Cooper, Carol Wildey, Melanie Hawkins, Alexandra Fulton, Vicki Pridmore, Victoria Cuevas, Mathew Scanlon, Patricia M. Livingston, Richard H. Osborne and Alison Beauchamp
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Jonathan O’Hara: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Crystal McPhee: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Sarity Dodson: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Annie Cooper: BreastScreen Victoria, Melbourne 3053, Australia
Carol Wildey: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Melanie Hawkins: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Alexandra Fulton: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Vicki Pridmore: BreastScreen Victoria, Melbourne 3053, Australia
Victoria Cuevas: BreastScreen Victoria, Melbourne 3053, Australia
Mathew Scanlon: BreastScreen Victoria, Melbourne 3053, Australia
Patricia M. Livingston: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Richard H. Osborne: Health Systems Improvement Unit, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Alison Beauchamp: Department of Rural Health, Monash University, Moe 3825, Australia

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: This study explored the association between health literacy, barriers to breast cancer screening, and breast screening participation for women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. English-, Arabic- and Italian-speaking women ( n = 317) between the ages of 50 to 74 in North West Melbourne, Australia were recruited to complete a survey exploring health literacy, barriers to breast cancer screening, and self-reported screening participation. A total of 219 women (69%) reported having a breast screen within the past two years. Results revealed that health literacy was not associated with screening participation. Instead, emotional barriers were a significant factor in the self-reported uptake of screening. Three health literacy domains were related to lower emotional breast screening barriers, feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers, social support for health and understanding health information well enough to know what to do. Compared with English- and Italian-speaking women, Arabic-speaking women reported more emotional barriers to screening and greater challenges in understanding health information well enough to know what to do. Interventions that can improve breast screening participation rates should aim to reduce emotional barriers to breast screening, particularly for Arabic-speaking women.

Keywords: health literacy; HLQ; breast cancer; breast cancer screening; mammography; Italian; Arabic; CALD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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