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“I’m not Alone; He will be There for Me”: A Mixed-Method Approach Exploring the Impact of Spousal Support on Mammogram Utilization and Health Beliefs

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Abstract

Regular mammogram screenings are effective for early breast cancer (BC) detection and decreased mortality rate. However, immigrant Muslim Arab women (IMAW) are less likely to adhere to these screenings although the rate of BC among IMAW is high. Recent studies have explored low mammogram screening rates among immigrant Muslim and/or Arab women from a limited perspective, overlooking the fact that husbands have an influence in IMAW’s health behaviors toward cancer screenings. Thus, this mixed-method approaches were employed to (a) explore the association between spousal support and IMAW’s health beliefs toward mammograms and their utilization, (b) to understand IMAW’s experiences of spousal influence related to their mammogram use and health beliefs. The quantitative portion of the study, recruitment and data collection were conducted via online surveys in Arabic and English. Logistic regressions were used to explore relationships between perceived spousal support and IMAW’s mammogram utilization and health beliefs. The qualitative portion of the study was conducted on a purposive sample of IMAW. A semi-structured interview guide in Arabic and English was used during one-on-one interviews. Arabic interviews were translated into English and transcribed by professionals. Interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke (2008). A total of 184 IMAW completed the survey with mean age of 50.4 (SD = 5.58, range = 45–60). Results revealed low mammogram screening rate among IMAW. Only 32.6% adhered to mammograms. Spousal support was positively associated with ever having obtained a mammogram and IMAW’s adherence to mammogram. The 20 qualitative interviews, 16 in Arabic and four in English, produced rich description supporting results from the survey which includes, (a) types of spousal support, (b) impact of spousal support on participants’ mammogram utilization and experience, and (3) impact of spousal support on participants’ health beliefs toward mammograms. Findings from surveys and interviews show that a husband’s support is positively associated with IMAW’s mammogram utilization and health beliefs. Suggesting a new approach to integrate husbands in culturally appropriate interventions to increase mammogram screening rates among IMAW.

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Funding

This study was funded by Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Tau-at-large fund number 80,890.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Department of Maternity and Childhood Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Sarah Alkhaifi

  2. Initiative on Islam and Medicine, Brookfield, WI, USA

    Sarah Alkhaifi

  3. School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, US

    Aasim I. Padela

  4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Aasim I. Padela

Authors
  1. Sarah Alkhaifi
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Contributions

Dr. Sarah Alkhaifi is the primary investigator. Dr. Alkhaifi designed the quantitative and qualitative parts of the study. She also conducted the study and analyzed the data from both surveys and interviews. Additionally, she drafted the article. Dr. Aasim Padela actively participated in study design (in both parts quantitative and qualitative). He also substantially evaluated data analysis (thematic analysis and statistical analysis parts). Dr. Padela also helped with drafting the article.

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Correspondence to Sarah Alkhaifi.

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The authors do not have financial or non-financial interests that are directly or indirectly related to the study.

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Alkhaifi, S., Padela, A.I. “I’m not Alone; He will be There for Me”: A Mixed-Method Approach Exploring the Impact of Spousal Support on Mammogram Utilization and Health Beliefs. J Immigrant Minority Health 26, 257–267 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01557-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01557-3

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