Factors Associated with Breast Cancer Screening among Korean American Women in California: Results from the California Health Interview Survey 2015–2016

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined preventive lifestyle behaviors and breast cancer (BC) screening behaviors<br />simultaneously to determine whether BC screening behaviors are associated with preventive lifestyle behaviors. The<br />purposes of this study are to (a) describe BC screening utilization and preventive lifestyle behaviors and (b) examine<br />factors associated with BC utilization among Korean American (KA) women. Methods: Data from the 2015–2016<br />California Health Interview Survey were analyzed. Survey-weighted adjusted logistic regressions were used to determine<br />whether preventive lifestyle behaviors and characteristics of KA women 50 years of age and older at the time of the<br />survey were associated with obtaining mammograms. Results: Most participants were born outside of the US and<br />had lived in the US for 15 years or more at the time of the survey. This study found that KA women who were 50–64<br />years old had 38 times greater odds of having ever had a mammogram and a 13 times greater odds of having a recent<br />mammogram than those 65 and older. KA women who walked at least 10 minutes per week for transportation and leisure<br />purposed were 61 times more likely to have ever had a mammogram than those who did not walk. Conclusion: This<br />study provides important perspectives on associations of BC screening behaviors and preventive life-style behaviors,<br />especially walking. Future research should be conducted to better understand the association between BC screening<br />and preventive life-style behaviors and to develop feasible interventions to improve BC screening behaviors among<br />KA women, particularly elderly and physically inactive ones.