Journal
WOMEN & HEALTH
Volume 48, Issue 4, Pages 409-427Publisher
ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/03630240802575146
Keywords
Breast cancer; breast self-exams; breast health; Health Belief Model; heterosexism; homophobia; lesbians; sexual orientation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The Health Belief Model was used as a conceptual framework for exploring how health beliefs and perceptions of heterosexism and homophobia in health care relate to lesbians' breast health behaviors, including use of breast exams and mammograms, visits to health care providers, and use of complementary/alternative care. A total of 173 exclusively homosexual women completed survey measures assessing health beliefs, experiences of heterosexism/homophobia, and health maintenance behaviors as these related to breast health. Findings indicated that women perceived heterosexism and homophobia from providers to influence the amount of discussion they had with providers and, to a lesser extent, care received, frequency of service use, and health outcomes. Perceptions of heterosexism and homophobia in health care settings significantly contributed, beyond routine health beliefs, to women's use of breast self-exams, visitation to health care providers, and use of complementary/alternative care. Implications for culturally competent care are discussed.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available