Association between Breast Cancer Knowledge and Mammogram Utilization among Immigrant Muslim Arab Women in California: Cross-Sectional Design

Abstract

Background: Regular mammogram screenings have contributed to early breast cancer (BC) diagnoses and lowered the mortality rate by 40% in the United States of America (USA). Nonetheless, ethnic women living in developed countries, such as immigrant Muslim Arab women (IMAW), are less likely to get mammograms. Aim of the study: In our study, we aimed to understand health behaviors among IMAWs as understudied populations in the USA. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a convenience sample of IMAW living in southern California. We used logistic regression and multivariate logistic regressions to analyze the data. Results: The total number of participants who completed the survey was 184 IMAW. Participants who had a higher level of knowledge about BC signs and symptoms and mammogram knowledge were more likely to have obtained a mammogram at some point compared with their counterparts (OR = 1.23, p = 0.03, CI: 1.07–1.42; OR = 2.23, p = 0.23, CI: 1.11–4.46, respectively). Conclusions: Our results provide more evidence emphasizing the important influence of BC and mammogram knowledge on immigrant women’s behavior regarding mammogram utilization. The average level of knowledge in all three domains (BC risk factors, BC signs and symptoms, and mammogram use) reported in this study is considered low.