TITLE:
Dignity, Shame, Stigma, or Ignorance in Avoidance of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings among Women of Caribbean Descent
AUTHORS:
Nasar U. Ahmed, Cheryl Brewster, Catherina Chang-Martinez, Lakisha Thomas-DeVlugt, Anny Rodriguez
KEYWORDS:
Breast, Cervical, Cancer, Screening, Barriers, Enabling Factors, Caribbean, Black, Muslim, Women, Focus Group
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.5,
May
31,
2022
ABSTRACT: Objectives: Black Caribbean women have a high prevalence of late-stage breast and
cervical cancer diagnosis and a low prevalence of screenings. This study
explored barriers to breast and cervical cancer screenings, beliefs, and
practices, and how they could overcome those barriers. Design: Focus
group discussions, audiotaped, transcribed in verbatim, and content analyzed
along with context using thematic arrangement. Results: Of 42 attendees,
37 participated in three focus groups with majority foreign-born; mean age of 50 years; 68% were Christian, and others Muslim. Overall, 32% of 42 focus
group attendees reported being screened for cancer. Barriers to screenings were fear of discomfort, finding something wrong “nerve-racking”, doctor not recommending, taking time off from work, and family commitment. Among Afro-Caribbean
women, there was the misconception of no risk of reproductive cancer after
menopause and no need to screen. The staggering 75% of Muslim women
participants mentioned that they never had a Pap smear test in their lives. Conclusion: Lack of understanding of their own cancer risk and trust in the health system; dignity, stigma,
shame, and ignorance may play roles in avoidance of cancer screening.