Understanding barriers to participation in mammography by women with disabilities

Abstract

Purpose: The study purpose was to identify barriers to mammography screening among women with different disabilities and to suggest interventions to address barriers.

Methods: Forty-two women with self-reported disabilities, ages 40 to 69 years participated. They resided in 24 Connecticut towns, and most had a prior mammogram. Data were collected through six disability-specific focus groups from women with sensory, physical, psychiatric, and cognitive/intellectual impairments. Facilitator-conducted groups used a semistructured guide. Qualitative analysis applied an iterative coding process to generate themes and categories.

Results: We identified four themes (i.e., access, beliefs, social support, and comfort/ accommodations) and nine subthemes that characterized barriers. In all focus groups, women mentioned physical access and physical comfort/accommodations as types of barriers. Other major subthemes were communication and professional support. Women also described mammography facilitators.

Conclusion: Despite frequent use of health care and personal strategies to facilitate mammography screening, women with disabilities reported barriers to getting mammograms. Findings suggest a multifaceted approach to address these barriers.