Search

Women with disabilities experience significant disparities in accessing breast health services. Many studies have focused on barriers, but few have explored facilitators to improving breast health services. This study used a participatory-research approach involving women with physical, mobility, sensory, and developmental disabilities to explore facilitators and barriers affecting the access and quality of breast health services. Findings confirmed commonly cited barriers including attitudinal, environmental, financial, and structural issues but also identified multiple facilitators such as enhancing accessibility of breast health facilities and equipment, improving information sources, and increasing training of health professionals. Findings from this study can be used in improving breast health services among women with disabilities by targeting not only the removal of barriers but also the increase in proven facilitators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes a stress and coping framework which includes cognitive appraisal, personal and environmental resources, coping and stress to examine factors related to African-American caregivers' breast cancer screenings, including mammograms, clinical examinations and self-examinations. Using data from the Black Rural and Urban Caregivers Mental Health and Functioning Study, we performed separate logistic regressions for each type of breast cancer screening. Results reveal that having a regular doctor checkup (coping), care recipients having a cancer diagnosis (cognitive appraisal, and living in urban areas (environment resources) are associated with receiving a mammogram. Having greater income, having at least a high school degree (both personal resources) and having a regular doctor checkup (coping) are associated with receiving a clinical examination. Increased caregiver strain (stress), being 40 years old or older, social support (coping) and living in rural areas are associated with performing a self-examination. Targeting African-American caregivers, particularly in rural areas, for increased education on the importance of receiving breast cancer screenings is crucial to addressing health disparities. Making resources available, encouraging caregivers to get a clinical examination and a mammogram and directing public education toward caregivers are important points of intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]