Examining Mammography Use by Breast Cancer Risk, Race, Nativity, and Socioeconomic Status

Minority and foreign-born women report lower rates of mammograms compared to non-Hispanic white, U.S.-born women, even though they have increased risk for developing breast cancer. We examine disparities in mammography across breast cancer risk groups and determine whether disparities are explained by socioeconomic factors. Propensity score methodology was used to classify individuals from the 2000, 2005, and 2010 National Health Interview Survey according to their risk for developing breast cancer. Logistic regression models were used to predict the likelihood of mammography. Compared to non-Hispanic white women, Mexicans, Asians and “other” racial/ethnic origins were less likely to have undergone a mammogram. After controlling for breast cancer risk, socioeconomic status and health care resources, Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American, Black, and foreign-born women had an increased likelihood of receiving a mammogram. Using propensity scores makes an important contribution to the literature on sub-population differences in the use of mammography by addressing the confounding risk of breast cancer. While other factors related to ethnicity or culture may account for lower breast cancer screening rates in Asian and Mexican women, these findings highlight the need to consider risk, in addition to socioeconomic factors, that may pose barriers to screening in determining mammography disparities.