Intersectionality Impacts Survivorship: Identity-Informed Recommendations to Improve the Quality of Life of African American Breast Cancer Survivors in Health Promotion Programming

Rose Hennessy Garza, Michelle Y. Williams, Shana O. Ntiri, Michelle DeCoux Hampton and Alice F. Yan ()
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Rose Hennessy Garza: Joseph J Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53205, USA
Michelle Y. Williams: Division of Research, Patient Care Services, Stanford Healthcare, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Shana O. Ntiri: Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Michelle DeCoux Hampton: Division of Research, Patient Care Services, Stanford Healthcare, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Alice F. Yan: Division of Research, Patient Care Services, Stanford Healthcare, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: (1) Background: African American women breast cancer survivors face unique experiences that impact their quality of life as they transition beyond treatments. Experiences may be complicated by living at the intersection of systemically oppressed identities, including gender, race, social class, and cancer-related disability. Using the Black Feminist Thought (BFT) framework and the PEN-3 cultural model, this qualitative study sought to: (a) understand African American women breast cancer survivors’ lived experiences; (b) examine how the multiple intersecting factors of race, gender, social class/socioeconomic status, and cancer-related disability impact their quality of life; and (c) inform future health promotion programming that is culturally relevant to AAWBCS to improve their quality of life. (2) Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted with 30 African American breast cancer survivors in a Midwestern metropolitan region. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Framework analyses were conducted to identify themes with NVivo qualitative analysis software. (3) Results: Four themes emerged: (a) caregiving roles provide both support and challenges for survivors, (b) the “strong Black woman” is inherent in survivor experiences, (c) intersectionality impacts survivorship, and (d) African American women resist oppression through culturally specific supports and advocacy. (4) Conclusions: The intervention point of entry should be at the peer support group level and centered on family and provide community-based support and services. Future research should move upstream to address social determinants of health, including racism, sexism, and ableism; there is a critical need to discuss how structural racism affects health care and develop interventions to address racial discrimination and racial bias in health care.

Keywords: African American women; breast cancer survivors; intersectionality; Black Feminist Thought; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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