Lucia Yiu, BSc, BA, MScN
Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor
Windsor, ON
Purpose of Study
This qualitative study explored the perception of and perceived barriers to breast health practices among South Asian immigrant women.
Rationale and Significance
Canada is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse nations with a rapidly growing immigrant population especially in the South Asian population. These women often face language and cultural barriers which hinder their access to breast health and breast cancer information. Health care providers must understand these women’s perceived barriers to breast health practices in order to provide culturally competent and safe intervention. Information gained will add to the existing limited breast health research on ethnic minority women.
Methodology Sample and Setting
A convenient sample of 17 South Asian women was interviewed in their primary languages in their own homes in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. All women were asked to describe their knowledge and beliefs of breast cancer and breast health practices, the barriers they experienced for practicing breast health, and their recommendations to promote breast health among other ethnocultural immigrant women. Data from the audio-taped interviews were back translated verbatim to English for theme analysis.
Results
Low participation rates in breast cancer screening services were contributed by cultural hesitancy and secrecy, language barriers, cultural beliefs about breast health, and limited experience and knowledge of the health care system. Twice as many East Asian women as Canadian women had practised BSE (64% vs. 35%) and received mammogram (79% vs. 37%); however, their rate of CBE (23%) is about half of those of the Canadian women (49%) and other East Asian women (40%).
Conclusion
Health care providers must employ a collaborative and culturally sensitive approach to educate ethnic minority women the importance of breast health and the benefits of early screening and detection of breast cancer.