scholarly journals Infertility knowledge and treatment beliefs among African American women in an urban community

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Wiltshire ◽  
Lynae M Brayboy ◽  
Kiwita Phillips ◽  
Roland Matthews ◽  
Fengxia Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
American Women ◽  
Treatment Beliefs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Safety Net Hospital

Abstract Background To assess infertility knowledge and treatment beliefs among African American women in an urban community in Atlanta, Georgia. Methods This was a cross sectional study at a safety net hospital. A convenience sample of a total of 158 women receiving outpatient obstetrical or gynecologic care from March–April 2017 were recruited. Infertility knowledge and treatment beliefs were assessed using a previously applied and field-tested survey from the International Fertility Decision Making Study. Results The mean infertility knowledge score was 38.15% for total subjects. Those with a higher level of education (p < 0.0001) and those with paid employment (p = 0.01) had a significantly higher level of infertility knowledge. Those who had a history of infertility therapy were significantly more likely to agree with negative treatment beliefs (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in infertility knowledge or treatment beliefs based on age, sexuality, parity or being pregnant at the time of survey completion. Conclusions African American women in our urban clinic setting seem to have a limited level of knowledge pertaining to infertility. Further research is needed to understand how differences in knowledge and beliefs translate into infertility care decision-making and future childbearing.

scholarly journals Community Engagement in the Development of an mHealth-Enabled Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health Intervention (Step It Up): Pilot Focus Group Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joniqua Nashae Ceasar ◽  
Sophie Elizabeth Claudel ◽  
Marcus R Andrews ◽  
Kosuke Tamura ◽  
Valerie Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Minority Population ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
American Women

BACKGROUND Community-based participatory research is an effective tool for improving health outcomes in minority communities. Few community-based participatory research studies have evaluated methods of optimizing smartphone apps for health technology-enabled interventions in African Americans. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to utilize focus groups (FGs) for gathering qualitative data to inform the development of an app that promotes physical activity (PA) among African American women in Washington, DC. METHODS We recruited a convenience sample of African American women (N=16, age range 51-74 years) from regions of Washington, DC metropolitan area with the highest burden of cardiovascular disease. Participants used an app created by the research team, which provided motivational messages through app push notifications and educational content to promote PA. Subsequently, participants engaged in semistructured FG interviews led by moderators who asked open-ended questions about participants’ experiences of using the app. FGs were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim, with subsequent behavioral theory-driven thematic analysis. Key themes based on the Health Belief Model and emerging themes were identified from the transcripts. Three independent reviewers iteratively coded the transcripts until consensus was reached. Then, the final codebook was approved by a qualitative research expert. RESULTS In this study, 10 main themes emerged. Participants emphasized the need to improve the app by optimizing automation, increasing relatability (eg, photos that reflect target demographic), increasing educational material (eg, health information), and connecting with community resources (eg, cooking classes and exercise groups). CONCLUSIONS Involving target users in the development of a culturally sensitive PA app is an essential step for creating an app that has a higher likelihood of acceptance and use in a technology-enabled intervention. This may decrease health disparities in cardiovascular diseases by more effectively increasing PA in a minority population.

scholarly journals Breastfeeding among Low Income, African-American Women: Power, Beliefs and Decision Making

2003 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 305S-309S ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Bentley ◽  
Deborah L. Dee ◽  
Joan L. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Low Income ◽  
American Women

A Pilot Study of a Culturally Grounded Breastfeeding Intervention for Pregnant, Low-Income African American Women

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-484
Author(s):  
Rebecca Reno
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
American Women ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Increasing breastfeeding rates among low-income African American women may work toward the achievement of health equity. The dynamic breastfeeding assessment process (D-BAP) is a community-grounded, equity-focused intervention designed to increase prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. Research aim: The aims of the pilot study were (a) to determine the effect of the D-BAP on breastfeeding self-efficacy among pregnant, low-income African American women, (b) to examine the findings among women with no previous breastfeeding experience, and (c) to compare the findings between women with prior breastfeeding experience and those without it. Methods: A pre/post, paired-samples design was utilized. Convenience sampling was used to recruit pregnant, low-income African American women ( N = 25). Participants completed the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form prior to and following the D-BAP. Results: The Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated that participation in the D-BAP had a statistically significant influence on breastfeeding self-efficacy ( z = −2.01, p = .04). Among a subsample of participants with no previous breastfeeding experience ( n = 12), completion of the D-BAP resulted in a statistically significant increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy ( z = −2.36, p = .02). There was no statistically significant difference between those with prior breastfeeding experience and those without it. Conclusion: Breastfeeding among low-income African American women is a health equity issue for which culturally responsive, effective breastfeeding interventions are needed. This research demonstrates an association between completion of the D-BAP and an increase in prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Abstract 230: Internal Medicine Trainee Understanding and Reaction to Out of Pocket Costs

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P Chidester ◽  
Sandeep R Das ◽  
Rebecca Vigen
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Safety Net Hospital ◽  
Out Of Pocket Costs ◽  
Clinic Visits

Introduction: Out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) are a significant barrier to care and drive suboptimal medical therapy in ASCVD. Despite this, there is minimal attention paid to these costs in post-graduate education. To define a potential knowledge gap, we surveyed trainee understanding of OOPC. Methods: We surveyed Internal Medicine residents at a large academic program comprised of a large county safety-net hospital, a VA, and a private tertiary care hospital, about knowledge and practices surrounding patient OOPC. Residents rotate on services at all sites and the vast majority have primary care clinic at the county or VA hospital. Participants answered questions considering their most recent inpatient panel and their clinic patient panel. Familiarity was ranked on a 5-point Likert scale, and for the purposes of presentation, was divided into “Poor” and “Moderate or Better”. Non-parametric analysis was used to test differences between outpatients v inpatients and by year of training. Results: Of 159 residents, 106 (67%) responded. Familiarity with patient insurance status was moderate or better in 135 of 159 (85%). Moderate or better understanding of costs associated with medications (52% [83 of 159]), testing (19% [30 of 159]) and clinic visits (30% [48 of 159]) was less common. Respondents had higher familiarity with OOPC for clinic patients compared with their most recent inpatient panel: clinic visits (39% v 21% [62 v 33 of 159 p < 0.005]), testing (25.7% v 12.4% [41 v 20 of 159 p = 0.002]), and medications (62% v 42% [99 v 67 of 159 p <0.005]) Knowledge of cost of care was not an often-considered factor in decision making (27% “Often” or “Always” [43 of 159]). There was no significant difference in response by year of training. Discussion: Our survey demonstrates that trainee familiarity with OOPC was low overall but modestly higher for established clinic patients, perhaps reflecting longitudinal experience with them or the heterogeneity of admitted patient funding status. Familiarity with patient OOPC was not an often-considered factor in decision making and did not significantly improve over years of training. This suggests an important gap in trainee education. Teaching greater familiarity with patient OOPC during residency can increase awareness of the financial realities of patients, enabling more patient-centered care.

scholarly journals Between-Race Differences in Processes Predicting Physician Communication for African American and European American Recipients of Breast Density Notifications

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 721-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Manning ◽  
Terrance L Albrecht ◽  
Louis Penner ◽  
Kristen Purrington
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Breast Density ◽  
Race Differences ◽  
Physician Communication ◽  
Caucasian American ◽  
American Women ◽  
Behavioral Decision ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Abstract Background Breast density notification laws mandate reporting of dense breast to applicable women. The same psychological and systemic barriers that yield between-race differences in mammography use will probably yield between-race differences in women’s psychological and behavioral responses to breast density notifications. Purpose We used the theory of planned behavior as a framework to examine between-race differences in the likelihood of following-up with physicians after receiving breast density notifications and to examine differences in African American and Caucasian American women’s behavioral decision-making processes. Methods A subset of 212 African American and Caucasian American women who participated in an initial and follow-up survey examining responses to breast density notifications were examined for this study. Participants reported background and demographic measures, psychological responses to receiving notifications, and planned behavior measures related to following up with physicians approximately 2 weeks after receiving their mammogram reports. Participants self-reported their behaviors 3 months later. Results There were no between-race differences in self-reported physician communication; however, there were differences in processes that predicted behavior. For Caucasian American women, behavioral intentions, education, and income predicted behaviors. Instead of intentions, group-based medical suspicion, confusion, breast cancer worry, and breast density anxiety predicted behaviors for African American women. Conclusions Behavioral decision-making processes for Caucasian American women were in line with well-validated theoretical predictions. For African American women, race-related medical suspicion, prior breast density awareness, and emotional responses to breast density notifications predicted behavior. The results highlight the need to focus on racially distinct psychological targets when designing interventions to support guideline concordant behavioral decisions among women who receive breast density notifications.

Breast Cancer Surgery Decision-Making and African-American Women

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane R. Schubart ◽  
Michelle A. Farnan ◽  
Rena B. Kass
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Cancer Surgery ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
American Women

scholarly journals Female genital mutilation in African and African American women's literature

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 129-146
Author(s):  
Darja Marinšek
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
American Women Writers ◽  
American Women ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
American Novels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Female Genital

The article builds on the existing dispute between African and African American women writers on the competence of writing about female genital mutilation (FGM), and tries to determine the existence and nature of the differences between the writings of these two groups. The author uses comparative analysis of two popular African and African American novels, comparing their ways of describing FGM, its causes and consequences, the level ob objectivity and the style of the narrations.This is followed by a discussion on the reasons for such differences, incorporating a larger circle of both African and African American women authors, at the same time analysing the deviance within the two groups. While the differences between African American writers are not that great, as they mostly fail to present the issue from different points of view, which is often the result of their lack of direct knowledge of the topic, African authors' writing is in itself discovered to be ambivalent and not at all invariable. The reasons for such ambivalence are then discussed in greater context, focusing on the effect of the authors' personal contact with circumcision as well as their knowledge and acceptance of Western values. The author concludes by establishing the African ambivalent attitude towards FGM, which includes different aspects of the issue, as the most significant difference between their and African American writers' description of this practice.

Does African American Women’s Racial Identity Mediate Gendered Racism on Anticipated Relationship Threat?

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051987230
Author(s):  
Giana N. Young ◽  
Glenn Gamst ◽  
Lawrence S. Meyers ◽  
Aghop Der-Karabetian ◽  
Cheryl T. Grills
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Racial Identity ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Gendered Racism ◽  
American Women ◽  
Relationship Threat ◽  
Multicultural Assessment ◽  
The Relationship

The present study examined the question of whether racial identity among African American women mediated the relationship between gendered racism and anticipated relationship threat. Using the Multicultural Assessment Intervention Process (MAIP) framework, we examined the relationship of gendered racism, racial identity, and anticipated relationship threat among a convenience sample of 411 African American women. A structural model was configured with gendered racism directly predicting anticipated relationship threat and racial identity serving as a mediator. Results indicated that greater levels of perceived gendered racism were associated with greater perceptions of anticipated relationship threat. Racial identity was found to not mediate the association with anticipated relationship threat. Individuals with less education experienced higher levels of concern regarding physical safety and controlling behaviors than those with more education. Implications for future relationship threat research with African American women are discussed.

scholarly journals Cell Phone Information Seeking Explains Blood Pressure in African American Women

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 617-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenette M. Jones ◽  
Tiffany C. Veinot ◽  
Susan J. Pressler
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
African American ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cell Phone ◽  
Cell Phone Use ◽  
American Women ◽  
Significant Difference

Although cell phone use and Internet access via cell phone is not marked by racial disparities, little is known about how cell phone use relates to blood pressure and health information seeking behaviors. The purposes of this study were to (a) describe Internet activities, cell phone use, and information seeking; (b) determine differences in blood pressure and information seeking between cell phone information seekers and nonseekers; and (c) examine cell phone information seeking as a predictor of blood pressure in African American women. Participants ( N = 147) completed a survey and had their blood pressure measured. Independent-sample t tests showed a significant difference in systolic blood pressure in cell phone information seekers and nonseekers. Linear regression revealed cell phone information seeking as an independent predictor of systolic blood pressure, despite confounders. It is possible that cell phone information seekers were using health information to make decisions about self-management of blood pressure.

Single institution's data on triple-negative breast cancer in African-American women.

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 188-188
Author(s):  
K. A. Abuelgasim Ahmed ◽  
Z. Y. Ghanem ◽  
A. Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Invasive Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
P Value ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
American Women ◽  
Significant Difference

188 Background: Although African-American women (AAW) have lower incidence of breast cancer, they have higher breast cancer related mortality compared to Caucasian women (CW). The incidence of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is as high as 20%-26% in AAW compared to 15% in CW. The incidence of TNBC is higher in women younger than age fifty, compared to non-triple-negative breast cancer (NTNBC). TNBC also presents at a more advanced stage. We studied the characteristics of TNBC in AAW diagnosed at Howard University Hospital. Methods: We identified all the newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer patients who had assessable data for ER, PR, and HER2/neu status from January 2004 to December of 2009, by reviewing our institution’s tumor registry. ER, PR positivity was determined if equal or more than 10% of the tumor cells tested positive by IHC stain. Her-2/neu was determined to be positive if the IHC stain was (3+). Tumors that tested equivocal (2+) were sent for FISH testing. Age and stage data was collected on all patients. Results: Between Jan 2004 and Dec of 2009, a total of 294 AAW were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and had enough data for evaluation. Seventy four (25%) patients had TNBC. Among those, 22 patients (30%) were less than 50 years old at the time of diagnosis, compared to 57 patients (26%) of the NTNBC (P-value = 0.5). Fifty two (74%) patients with TNBC were diagnosed with early stage disease (stages 1 and 2), compared to 150 (73%) of the NTNBC (P-value = 1); with 4 patients with TNBC and 15 patients with NTNBC had missing staging. (See table.) Conclusions: The incidence of TNBC in our cohort of AAW is 25% which is the same as the incidence reported in the literature. Even though TNBC patients are known to have worse prognosis, this may not be attributed to the stage of the disease at presentation or the age of the patient since both group showed no statistically significant difference in both variables. [Table: see text]

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