Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Nancy Rea

Abstract

Nearly 1 out of every 8 women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime, making breast cancer the most common noncutaneous malignancy in women, particularly among the Hispanic/Latino population. Hispanic/Latino women are more likely than non-Hispanic/Latino women to be diagnosed with breast cancer after the disease has progressed to a fatal stage. This quantitative study measured how knowledge, attitude, and screening practices affect the prevalence and outcomes of breast cancer cases among Hispanic/Latino women while controlling for socioeconomic status factors, using social cognitive theory as a framework. This research uses secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey study, the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey, which collected pertinent breast cancer health information on the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. Descriptive characteristics were derived from a sample population of 3,677, a logistic regression analysis model was used to compute crude odds ratio and confidence interval. The findings revealed that Hispanic/Latino women had a positive attitude toward information sources such as physicians and medical facilities; however, the findings indicate Hispanic/Latino women had negative attitude when these individuals lacked information sources. There were notable differences in how frequently Hispanic/Latino women access screening practices, due to income, knowledge, culture, and attitudes toward a health condition like breast cancer. The findings revealed an opportunity for health professionals to promote breast cancer awareness by educating Hispanic/Latino women about the importance of screening practices and behavioral compliance to reduce their late-stage diagnoses of breast cancer.

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