For more information, contact Cindy Young, (937) 775-3232.

October 28, 1997

WSU PROFESSOR CONDUCTS MAMMOGRAPHY STUDY
AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN


Although the incidence of breast cancer among African-American women is not higher than that among the general population, national data show that morbidity and mortality resulting from breast cancer is considerably higher in this group.

Barbara Fowler, associate professor of nursing in Wright State University's College of Nursing and Health, is conducting a one-year study in the Dayton area that will help explain why African-American women with breast cancer have a lower survival rate than the national average.

Her study, "African-American women's decision to forego breast cancer screening," was among 12 to be selected for funding from over 300 applications for the prestigious national grant from the American Nurses Foundation in Washington, D.C.

"African-American women, particularly those who are at or below federal poverty guidelines, get into the health care system late and then the illness manifestation is more severe and the disease more devastating," said Fowler, who has taught at Wright State for nine years.

Fowler will conduct a qualitative study involving intensive one-on-one interviews with volunteers from the congregation of more than 2,000 at the Omega Southern Baptist Church in Dayton. "Although there is a tremendous amount of quantitative information available about this problem, it has not brought women in for screening. I'm hoping that this study, by looking at patterns and themes that emerge in the interviews, will fill the gap."

"I hope to reach an understanding of the decision-making process that keeps low-income African-American women from getting mammography screening," she said. "The medical community is not sure why this group of women tends to wait until there is a problem before being screened. Is it a fear of the test results? Fear of the process itself? Or are there financial, cultural or religious barriers? These are some of the questions I hope my study will answer."