A comparison of breast and cervical cancer legislation and screening in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

We identified legislation (1989-2005) relating to breast and cervical cancer in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and examined its impact on screening rates for these cancers and on Black-White disparities in screening rates. Legislation was identified using the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) State Cancer Legislative Database (SCLD) Program. Screening rates were identified using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Racial/ethnic differences in the self-reported use of screening mammography.

The efficacy of mammography in reducing breast cancer mortality among women 50-69 years of age has been demonstrated in randomized controlled studies, but many women, especially ethnic minorities, have not been receiving regular mammographic screening. The current study investigated racial/ethnic differences in mammography use and their association with demographic characteristics and other factors. The study population consisted of 4,444 women aged 40 years and older who participated in the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.