Socioeconomic status was the number one factor impacting breast cancer screening behavior, according to a recent study at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine. The key factors that impacted this were income, education level, employment status, birthplace/citizenship, marital status, social support and number of children.
Women with estimated household incomes greater than $38,100 were found to have rates of repeat mammography higher than those of women with household incomes below $25,399. Both high levels of poverty and impoverished rural regions were associated with lower screening rates. The study further stated that insurance status was the most reported barrier to quality health care demonstrating a strong association between a lack of health insurance and a lower rate of breast cancer screening.
Ethnic minority women, with the exception of those identifying as Asian, had a lower likelihood of being screened and Black women experienced a higher risk of diagnosis upon first screening. White bisexual women had significantly lower mammography rates than white heterosexual women while mammography rates were significantly higher for bisexual Black women than for heterosexual Black women.
