Promoting mammography screening among African American women aged 40–50 in underserved communities of faith

Title : Promoting mammography screening among African American women aged 40–50 in underserved communities of faith

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Breast cancer is still a leading cause of mortality among women in the United States, with African American women experiencing disproportionately higher mortality rates and later-stage diagnoses. Women aged 40–50 face unique barriers, including limited access to care, cultural beliefs, and inconsistent screening guidance. Faith-based communities are trusted, culturally relevant spaces to address these disparities. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a culturally tailored, faith-based educational intervention to improve mammography screening intention among African American women aged 40–50.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: This quantitative Quality Improvement (QI) project used a pre-post design across four faith-based organizations in Alamance County, North Carolina. The project was guided by Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM) and the Health Belief Model (HBM). A total of 120 participants were engaged, with 45 meeting inclusion criteria. The intervention incorporated project HEAL. Data were collected using the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ) at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 30-day follow-up. Paired t-tests were conducted to evaluate changes in outcomes pre and post intervention.
Conclusion & Significance: This project proves that culturally tailored, faith-based interventions can effectively improve breast cancer screening beliefs and intentions among African American women aged 40–50. Leveraging trusted community institutions addresses structural and cultural barriers to care. These findings support the integration of faith-based partnerships into population health strategies to advance health equity and reduce disparities in preventive care. Nurse leaders play a pivotal role in designing and implementing scalable, community-centered interventions.

Biography:

Zenobia Frazier, MBA, BSN, RN, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) candidate at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University with a focus on health equity and population health. With over a decade of experience in clinical operations, utilization management, and care coordination, she is passionate about addressing disparities through innovative, community-based interventions. Her work centers on improving preventive care outcomes among underserved populations, particularly through faith-based partnerships. Zenobia has led initiatives targeting hypertension management, social determinants of health, and care gap closure. Her scholarly interests include culturally tailored interventions, translational research, and the role of spirituality in health outcomes. She is committed to becoming a transformative nurse leader dedicated to advancing equitable healthcare systems and improving access to care for vulnerable communities.