Barriers and facilitators to mammography among women with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative approach

Evelyn Arana-Chicas, Avat Kioumarsi, Amy Carroll-Scott, Philip M. Massey, Ann C. Klassen, Michael Yudell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although women with intellectual disabilities have the same breast cancer incidence rate as women without intellectual disabilities, they have fewer mammograms and higher mortality rates. Qualitative inquiry was employed to explore barriers and facilitators to mammography among this population. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 women with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers in Philadelphia during 2015–2016. Thematic analysis was conducted using inductive and deductive coding. While results provide further evidence for prior research on barriers to mammography among women with intellectual disabilities (e.g. being unprepared, fear of the exam), this study generated novel barriers such as lack of breast ultrasound awareness, sedation failing to work, and lack of mammogram education in adult day programs, and novel facilitators such as extended family support and positive attitudes. Results support the need to address barriers and promote facilitators to improve the breast cancer screening experience among women with intellectual disabilities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1290-1314
Number of pages25
JournalDisability and Society
Volume35
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 13 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Intellectual disability
  • disparities
  • mammograms
  • women’s health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • General Health Professions
  • General Social Sciences

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