Research PaperReceipt of mammography among women with intellectual disabilities: Medical record data indicate substantial disparities for African American women
Section snippets
Methods
The present study analyzed retrospective medical record data obtained as part of a larger project that includes a multisite, randomized controlled trial that is testing an intervention to promote cervical and breast cancer screening among women with intellectual disabilities.22 The study protocol was approved by our university's Institutional Review Board.
Results
Sixty-two different medical practices reported mammography data for the 92 women. Of those sites reporting mammography data, 51% were primary care or family physicians, 20% were internal medicine, and 26% were OB/GYNs. The remainder of the medical data was received from the women's group homes, hospitals, or radiologists. Table 1 presents the unadjusted rates of receipt of mammography for African American and White women (1) in 2009; (2) in 2008 or 2009; and (3) in both 2008 and 2009. In 2009,
Discussion
While previous research has indicated significant health disparities for women with intellectual disabilities,30 little is known about racial differences in health care access among this population. This study described mammography presents new evidence of significantly worse rates of mammography among African American women with intellectual disabilities compared to White women with intellectual disabilities. This marked racial disparity persisted even after controlling for a host of variables
Conclusion
This study offers evidence of racial disparities in the receipt of mammography among African American and White women with intellectual disabilities. Assertive policy measures are needed to improve mammography for African American women with intellectual disabilities.
References (33)
- et al.
Breast cancer and the uptake of mammography screening services by women with intellectual disabilities
Prev Med
(2003) - et al.
Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
(2002) - et al.
Racial differences in knowledge, attitudes, and cancer screening practices among a triracial rural population
Cancer
(2004) - et al.
Barriers to repeat mammography: cultural perspectives of African-American, Asian, and Hispanic women
Psycho-Oncology
(2006) - et al.
Mammographic screening: patterns of use and estimated impact on breast carcinoma survival
Cancer
(2004) Health, United States, 2009: with Special Feature on Medical Technology
(2010)- et al.
Surveillance of screening-detected cancers (colon and rectum, breast, and cervix) – United States, 2004–2006
MMWR Surveill Summ
(November 26, 2010) Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2011–2012
(2011)- et al.
Effects of race and socioeconomic status on survival of 1,332 black, Hispanic, and white women with breast cancer
Ann Surg Oncol
(1997) - et al.
Racial differences in breast carcinoma survival
Cancer
(2000)
Recent trends in Black-White disparities in cancer mortality
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
Breast cancer statistics, 2011
CA Cancer J Clin
Cancer incidence among people with intellectual disability
J Intell Disabil Res
The incidence of cancer in people with intellectual disabilities
Cancer Causes Control
Breast cancer: hormones and other risk factors
Maturitas
Reproductive and physical health
Cited by (0)
Financial disclosure/conflict of interest: The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest. Support for the preparation of this manuscript was provided by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research grant #H133G090124; the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University; and the North Carolina Office of Disability & Health.