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Breast Cancer Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among College Women and Mother–Daughter Communication

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Abstract

Although breast cancer prevention targets mostly women ages 40 and older, little is known about breast cancer prevention for young women and mother’s advice. The purpose of this study was to examine breast cancer prevention knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among college women and mother–daughter communication. Hispanic and non-Hispanic students at a southwestern university completed a breast cancer prevention survey with items for mother’s advice, breast self-awareness and risk reduction knowledge, self-efficacy, susceptibility, family history, provider breast self-exam (BSE) recommendation, peer norms, BSE practice, and demographics. An openended item was also used to elicit types of mother’s advice. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors for receiving mother’s advice for breast cancer prevention and BSE practice. Self-reported data using a survey were obtained from 546 college women with a mean age of 23.3 (SD = 7.75). Nearly 36 % received mothers’ advice and 55 % conducted BSE. Predictors for receiving mother’s advice were age, self-efficacy, and family history of breast cancer. Predictors for BSE practice were mother’s advice, age, self-efficacy, and provider BSE recommendation. Family history of breast cancer and knowledge were not significant predictors for BSE practice. Findings support the need for clinicians, community health educators, and mothers to provide breast cancer prevention education targeting college women.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a New Mexico State University Faculty Research Rising Star Grant. We would like to thank Carla Fisher, PhD, for her invaluable comments on an earlier draft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, MSC 3HLS, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA

    Cynthia Kratzke & Anup Amatya

  2. Border Epidemiology and Environmental Center, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA

    Hugo Vilchis

Authors
  1. Cynthia Kratzke
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  2. Hugo Vilchis
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  3. Anup Amatya
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Correspondence to Cynthia Kratzke.

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Kratzke, C., Vilchis, H. & Amatya, A. Breast Cancer Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among College Women and Mother–Daughter Communication. J Community Health 38, 560–568 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9651-7

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