Methods:  Participants included 100 African-American women recruited from churches, housing projects, and a health fair at a historically African American University who had not received a mammogram within the past 12 months. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants by trained research assistants covering the following topics: demographic data, history of breast cancer and mammography screening, reasons for not getting a mammogram, beliefs about breast cancer, and depression.

Results: Findings revealed that 41% of participants had never received a mammogram, 39% did not have their breasts examined by their doctor every year, 56% did not do monthly self-examination, and 24% did not even know how to examine their breast for breast cancer.  The most frequently reported reasons for not getting a mammogram were because it was not suggested by a doctor (34%), no time (23%), could not get an appointment (20%), and health insurance (17%).  Nearly 20% reported not getting a mammogram because their breasts were currently healthy and/or their first mammogram was negative so there was need for another.

Implications: Findings indicate that improvements need to be made in physicians routinely referring African-American women for mammography screening, access and funding for mammography screening, and specific campaigns educating African-American women about breast cancer and dispelling the myths about breast cancer.