Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Precilla Belin

Abstract

Cancer screening is useful for improving survival rates and treatment outcomes, which is why there are screening recommendations for the most prevalent types of cancer. Despite gains in the reduction of cancer-related mortality rate worldwide in the past few years, the Haitian community continues to experience high mortality rates due to cancer. The prevalence of prostate cancer in the Haitian population is among the highest worldwide at 767 per 100,000, with a mortality rate of 403 per 100,000. One of the causes may be the low prostate cancer screening rate in the Haitian community; however, no studies have been focused on an association between demographic factors within this community and the low prostate cancer screening rate. This study's purpose was to address this gap through a cross-sectional quantitative design using the health belief model as a theoretical framework and a convenience sample of 282 Haitian males. The rate of prostate cancer screening among Haitian immigrants living in Brooklyn was examined based on the demographic variables of age, income, and education. Participants' perceptions regarding prostate cancer screening were also evaluated based on the same variables. Loglinear, and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. Although education was found to be the strongest and only significant predictor variable for prostate cancer screening participation within the target population, no conclusion could be drawn regarding the effect of the select variables on the participants' perceptions on prostate cancer screening. The implications for this study include increased knowledge for public health promotion initiatives and for those in the Haitian community working to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates due to prostate cancer.

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