About 390,000 deaths occur
yearly in the United States as a result of cigarette use. Almost 90% of
these deaths are from lung cancer. Over the past 20 years, cigarette use
has become increasingly prevalent in the African-American community [14]. As a
result, African Americans are at particular risk of lung cancer incidence
and mortality [15].
Diet also plays an important
role in preventing illnesses and in the number of premature deaths.
Epidemiologic and experimental animal studies suggest that dietary fat
may influence the risk of some cancers, particularly breast, colon, and
prostate cancers [16]. African Americans are particularly at risk of developing
and dying from these cancers, due to high consumption of fats in their
diets.
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Each of the three major factors (poverty, cigarette use, and diet) affecting cancer incidence and mortality rates among African Americans are associated with the health care knowledge, attitudes, and practices of individuals in the African-American community [17]. To reduce the high cancer incidence and mortality rates among African Americans, printed cancer education materials that are understandable and culturally sensitive to African Americans need to be developed. |
