The Association of Religiosity and Use of Breast Cancer Screening among Older Women in Latin America and the Caribbean
Date
2009-05-01
Authors
Lopez, Maritza E.
ORCID
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Abstract
To examine the association between religiosity and breast cancer screening methods, 6,541 women aged 60 and older from the Health, Well-Being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean Study (SABE) were studied. The outcomes were reporting a mammogram, a clinical breast examination (CBE) or breast self-examination (BSE) within the last 2 years. Women who reported religion being very important were more likely to have a mammogram (OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.53-2.35), a CBE (OR= 1.70, 95% CI 1.44-2.00) and a BSE (OR= 1.44, 95% CI 1.23-1.68) compared with women who reported no religious affiliation. This suggests that religiosity may facilitate breast cancer screening behaviors among older women.