Unpacking rural Heterogeneity: A proof-of-concept study of how varying rural contexts shape breast cancer screening behaviors.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Rural women in the U.S. experience persistent inequities in breast cancer (BrCa) screening access, yet rural populations are often treated as a monolith in research and practice. This study serves as a proof of concept by examining how contextual heterogeneity across rural settings in South-Central Washington shapes screening behaviors and access, emphasizing the intersection of structural, cultural, and environmental factors through a community-informed lens.

Methods

Guided by the Community Capitals Framework, we conducted focus groups with women in two demographically and economically distinct rural communities in South-Central Washington. Participants discussed how barriers to BrCa screening manifest across seven domains of community capital-natural, cultural, hum

SUBMITTER: Cruz JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12597063 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature