Racial Trends in Mammography Rates: a Population-based Study

Background: The rates of mammography have been declining over the last 5 years. The objective of this study was to examine racial disparities in this trend.

Methods: The National Health Interview Survey is a population-based interview survey conducted annually. Caucasian and African-American women over 40 years of age who completed the cancer module of this survey in 2000 and 2005 formed the cohort of interest for this study.

Results: In 2000, 69.8% of Caucasian and 64.4% of African-American women over the age of 40 had had a mammogram within the preceding 2 years. In 2005, these rates declined to 66.7% and 62.9% respectively. This decline only reached statistical significance in the Caucasian population (P = .0006 vs P = .4998). While on univariate analysis a significant difference was seen between rates of mammography in Caucasian and African-American women (P < .0001), multivariate analysis controlling for education, income, and insurance status, did not find race to be a significant independent predictor of mammography rates in each year.

Conclusion: Rates of mammography are declining, particularly in Caucasian populations. While minority women are less likely to report having had a mammogram, this apparent racial disparity is explained by differences in education, income and insurance status.