Barriers to Mammography Use for Black Women

• Barriers to mammography screening exist for African American women in the United States.
• These barriers exist at the individual, community, and health care system levels.
• Nurse practitioners should be familiar with these barriers as well as with strategies that can be effective in ameliorating them.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, affecting 10%-15% during their lifetime. White women have a 17% higher incidence of breast cancer than Black women. However, a higher prevalence of an aggressive form of breast cancer in Black women and less regularity of and longer intervals between mammograms contribute to late diagnosis. This study addresses barriers to mammography screening for Black women in the US, including personal, cultural, economic, and health care system factors, along with appropriate strategies and solutions that nurse practitioners can utilize to address this problem effectively.