FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 4, 2011
Contact: Nikki Reen (267.295.3859 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
New Survey Results Analyze Breast Health Screenings among Area Women
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the US. According to the American Cancer Society, 2.5 million women living in America are breast cancer survivors and an estimated 230,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed just this year.* To commemorate October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, researchers from Public Health Management Corporation’s (PHMC) Community Health Data Base (CHDB) analyzed data on mammogram and clinical breast exam screenings among women who participated in its 2010 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey. The survey collects results from a random landline and cell phone survey conducted every two years with 10,000 households in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) region of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. CHDB used data from the survey to analyze how access to breast cancer screenings varies by demographics. “As October marks a month of focus on breast cancer, we thought it was important to share statistics on how local women access mammograms and screenings,” said Nicole Dreisbach, research associate at CHDB.
Although the American Cancer Society recommends that women over 40 should have a regular mammogram every year, in SEPA more than one-third of women 40 years or older (34.6%) have not had a mammogram within the past year, representing approximately 370,200 women in the region. Additionally, the American Cancer Society suggests that women in their 20s and 30s have clinical breast examinations as part of their annual examinations. The survey found that almost one-third of women 18 years of age or older (30.1%) did not have clinical breast examinations within the past year, representing about 478,000 women in the region.
The study also examined the relationship between health insurance coverage and regular breast cancer screenings. The data showed that 64% of women without health insurance have not had mammograms within the past year compared with 33.0% of women with health insurance. Additionally, more than one-half of women without health insurance (58.1%) have not had clinical breast exams in the past year compared with insured women (27.5%). The survey also found that women without sources of regular primary care, such as physician’s offices or local clinics, were less likely to receive regular screenings. More than one-half of women without regular sources of primary care (52.8%) have not had mammograms within the past year compared with one-third of women with regular sources of primary care (33.6%). Nearly one-half of women with no regular sources of primary care (46.0%) have not had clinical breast exams in the past year compared with 28.7% of women with regular sources of primary care.
More than any other racial/ethnic population group, Latina women in Southeast Pennsylvania are less likely to receive regular breast cancer screenings. According to CHDB data, 40.9% of Latina women have not had mammograms in the past year, followed by White (35.1%), Asian (32.1%), and Black (30.7%) women. Additionally, 45.5% of Latina women have not had clinical breast exams in the past year, compared with Asian (35.7%), White (29.7%), and Black (25.9%) women. Income level also plays a role. Over two-fifths of women living below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (42.6%) have not had mammograms in the past year compared with 32.6% of women living at or above the poverty level. Similarly, 39.0% of women living under the poverty line have not had clinical breast exams in the past year compared with 27.6% of women at or above the poverty line.
To access the full findings on breast cancer screenings in Southeastern Pennsylvania, contact Nicole Dreisbach at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 215.985.2524.
*American Cancer Society. “What is Breast Cancer?” Web. 9 February 2011.
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About CHDB
Public Health Management Corporation’s CHDB Household Health Survey is one of the largest regional health surveys in the country. The Pew Charitable Trusts; William Penn Foundation; United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania; United Way of North Penn; CIGNA Foundation; Green Tree Community Health Foundation; Philadelphia Foundation; North Penn Community Health Foundation and the Thomas Scattergood Foundation and over 350 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors help to support the CHDB. To view previous data news releases, please click here. For more information, please visit www.chdbdata.org.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
