Breast Cancer Screening Among Women by Nativity, Birthplace, and Length of Time in the United States

Natl Health Stat Report. 2019 Oct:(129):1-15.

Abstract

Objective-The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends biennial mammography screening for women aged 50-74 to reduce mortality from breast cancer. In the United States, foreign-born women have historically had higher breast cancer mortality rates than their U.S.-born peers. This report presents national estimates of mammography screening among women by nativity, birthplace, and percentage of lifetime living in the United States. Methods-Combined data were analyzed from 29,951 women aged 50-74 years who participated in the 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2015 National Health Interview Survey. The percentage of these women who ever had a mammogram and met the USPSTF recommendations for screening by nativity, birthplace, and percentage of lifetime in the United States was generated. Estimates were adjusted for selected demographic, socioeconomic, and health care access and utilization factors and presented as predictive margins. Results-Overall, foreign-born women were less likely than U.S.-born women to have ever had a mammogram (88.3% compared with 94.1%). Foreign-born women living in the United States for less than 25% of their lifetime were less likely to have ever had a mammogram (76.4%) or meet the USPSTF recommendations (55.0%) compared with U.S.-born women. Foreign-born women living in the United States for 25% or more of their lifetime were also less likely to have ever had a mammogram (90.9%) compared with U.S.-born women. After adjustment for selected sociodemographic characteristics, the percentage of foreign-born women who ever received a mammogram increased but was still lower than that of U.S.-born women. Foreign-born women residing in the United States for less than 25% of their lifetime were as likely as U.S.-born women to have met the USPSTF recommendations (72.1% and 72.4%, respectively), while those residing in the United States for 25% or more of their lifetime (75.1%) were more likely to do so than U.S.-born women. Differences by birthplace were also observed.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Birth Setting / trends*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Early Detection of Cancer*
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Services Accessibility / trends
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Mass Screening / trends*
  • Middle Aged
  • Qualitative Research
  • Time Factors
  • United States