Assessment of Barriers to Screening Mammograms for Rural, Poor, Uninsured Women and a Community Plan of Action

ABSTRACT

This project determined the barriers to obtaining screening mammograms for women aged 40–64 years in rural northwest Georgia, sampling 20 poor and uninsured women and 5 key community professionals. Data were collected from the women participants regarding mammogram screening beliefs about their susceptibility, barriers encountered, and benefits identified. The same women and key community providers were interviewed about their perception of barriers to receiving mammograms. The women experienced more barriers and believed that they had a greater susceptibility to developing breast cancer compared to previous research. The most overwhelming barrier was cost. A community plan was developed to address screening needs.