© 2004 by Oxford University Press
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© 2004 Oxford University Press
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In Different Cultures, Cancer Screening Presents Challenges
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On the whole, rates of breast cancer screening by mammography have increased steadily in women ages 40 and older, Pap smear use for cervical cancer screening is increasing slightly among women ages 18 and older, and colorectal cancer screening rates have recently increased but remain low among people ages 50 and older. But those rates vary among people of different ethnic backgrounds, and understanding how cultural beliefs and other factors play into those disparities can help researchers develop better cancer screening programs.
One of the fundamental issues underlying how cultural beliefs influence behavior is understanding that social norms for discussing various topics differ among groups. "There are whole different ways of communicating and relating to others that go beyond a belief in fatalism or [a sense of] embarrassment about cancer screening—that is the
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J Natl Cancer Inst 2004 96: 12.