Screening
Factors Associated With Positive Mammography Intentions Among African American College Students in Mississippi Dinan Noor* Dinan Noor Noor Noor Noor Noor Noor dinan.noor@students.jsums.edu
Introduction: Breast cancer remains a major public health concern in the United States, with pronounced age‑specific disparities. Although overall incidence is comparable between African American and White women, African American women under 40–45 years’ experience substantially higher early‑onset incidence, with rate ratios ranging from 2.0 (ages 0–24) to 1.1 (ages 35–39). Young African American women also face more aggressive disease and nearly twice the mortality of young White women. Although recommended age is 40 in Mississippi, persistent mortality disparities suggest gaps in screening access, uptake, and awareness among younger women who may benefit from earlier risk assessment. No prior research has examined breast cancer screening knowledge, intentions, and perceived barriers among African American college students aged 18–39 years in the state.
Purpose: To examine the association of breast cancer knowledge and perceived barriers with positive intentions to obtain mammography among female college students aged 18–39 years in Mississippi.
Methods: A cross-sectional, self‑reported survey using convenience sampling assessed knowledge of risk factors, early symptoms, screening procedures, and perceived barriers. A scoring system measured knowledge of risk factors and early symptoms. Chi‑square tests and t‑tests were conducted, and p‑values recorded.
Results: Among 383 participants (mean age 26.29 ± 6.3), 87.4% were unmarried, 37.1% had children, 46.9% worked full‑time, and 78.9% reported household income below $50,000. Positive intention to undergo mammography was significantly associated with age (<.001), higher class standing (<.001), marital status (.014), having children (<.001), insurance status (<.001), having heard about mammography (<.001), perceiving mammography as painful (.022), positive family history (.03), and higher knowledge scores for risk factors and early symptoms (.048).
Conclusion: Positive intentions toward mammography among young African American college women are shaped by sociodemographic factors, prior exposure to information, perceived barriers, and breast cancer knowledge. These findings highlight the need for targeted education and early awareness initiatives to support informed screening intentions in this underserved population.