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Young Women's Breast Health Needs
sified as obese, according to new data from the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The data show that 31 percent of adults 20 years of age and over—nearly 59 million people—have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater, compared to 23 percent in 1994, according to the data collected and analyzed by the NCHS, part of HHS’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meanwhile, the percentage of children who are overweight (defined as BMI-for-age at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC Growth Charts) also continues to increase. Among children and teens ages 6 to 19, 15 percent (almost 9 million) are overweight according to the 1999-2000 data, or triple what the proportion was in 1980. The findings show more adult women are obese (33 percent) than men (28 percent), with the problem greatest among non-Hispanic black women (50 percent) compared to Mexican-American women (40 percent) and non-Hispanic white women (30 percent). There was practically no difference in obesity levels among men based on race/ethnicity. In addition, over 10 percent of younger pre-school-aged children between ages two and five are overweight, up from 7 percent in 1994. More information on the study is available on the CDC/NCHS Web site at www.cdc.gov/nchs.
Young Women’s Breast Health Needs
Y
oung women are putting themselves at risk by not practicing important breast health behaviors, according to a survey recently released by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on breast health practices among women ages 20 to 39.
498
AWHONN Lifelines
The initial research included a review of breast cancer research targeting young women and 214 existing breast health education materials, 33 regional focus groups and 240 telephone surveys with young women. A follow-up Harris Poll telephone survey with 522 women confirmed many of the ideas and practices revealed in the needs assessment. Key findings from the study were • More than half of young women are not performing monthly breast selfexaminations (BSE) • Young women inaccurately believe that breast cancer can be prevented • More than half (nearly 60 percent) of young women do not believe that they are at risk for breast cancer • Forty percent of young women incorrectly believe that mammograms prevent breast cancer rather than screen for the disease While the two greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths for women ages 20 to 39. In addition, young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer often have a more aggressive form of the disease and are faced with unique survivorship issues. Regardless of incidence rates, the Komen Foundation encourages positive breast health habits for young women. According to the research, more than half of the women surveyed do not perform monthly BSE, citing that they are unsure of how to do the procedure, do not remember to do the exam and do not have time. The Komen Foundation recommends monthly BSE for young women beginning by age 20. The foundation recently unveiled an animated BSE instructional tool available at www.komen.org/bse
that provides instruction through audio clips, video animation and written directions in both English and Spanish. The research also found that there are few relevant, targeted breast health materials for young women and that these women prefer to receive breast health information from their health care providers. Nearly 70 percent of the women surveyed seek out information on breast cancer and trust their health care provider as a credible source.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Affects Cervical Cancer Screening
W
omen who were sexually abused as children are less likely to get Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer, according to an article published in the October issue of the Journal of Family Practice. While researchers and clinicians know that sexual abuse in childhood has longlasting negative effects on women’s health, this study reveals that the negative consequences of childhood sexual abuse also extend to preventive health care. Researchers Melissa Farley, Ph.D.,
Volume 6
Issue 6
Young Women’s Breast Health Needs
Y
oung women are putting themselves at risk by not practicing important breast health behaviors, according to a survey recently released by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on breast health practices among women ages 20 to 39.
498
AWHONN Lifelines
The initial research included a review of breast cancer research targeting young women and 214 existing breast health education materials, 33 regional focus groups and 240 telephone surveys with young women. A follow-up Harris Poll telephone survey with 522 women confirmed many of the ideas and practices revealed in the needs assessment. Key findings from the study were • More than half of young women are not performing monthly breast selfexaminations (BSE) • Young women inaccurately believe that breast cancer can be prevented • More than half (nearly 60 percent) of young women do not believe that they are at risk for breast cancer • Forty percent of young women incorrectly believe that mammograms prevent breast cancer rather than screen for the disease While the two greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths for women ages 20 to 39. In addition, young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer often have a more aggressive form of the disease and are faced with unique survivorship issues. Regardless of incidence rates, the Komen Foundation encourages positive breast health habits for young women. According to the research, more than half of the women surveyed do not perform monthly BSE, citing that they are unsure of how to do the procedure, do not remember to do the exam and do not have time. The Komen Foundation recommends monthly BSE for young women beginning by age 20. The foundation recently unveiled an animated BSE instructional tool available at www.komen.org/bse
that provides instruction through audio clips, video animation and written directions in both English and Spanish. The research also found that there are few relevant, targeted breast health materials for young women and that these women prefer to receive breast health information from their health care providers. Nearly 70 percent of the women surveyed seek out information on breast cancer and trust their health care provider as a credible source.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Affects Cervical Cancer Screening
W
omen who were sexually abused as children are less likely to get Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer, according to an article published in the October issue of the Journal of Family Practice. While researchers and clinicians know that sexual abuse in childhood has longlasting negative effects on women’s health, this study reveals that the negative consequences of childhood sexual abuse also extend to preventive health care. Researchers Melissa Farley, Ph.D.,
Volume 6
Issue 6