Abstract A101: Assessing contemporary cancer prevention infrastructure in neighborhoods of historical residential segregation to better understand patterns of breast cancer disparities
Authors: Valencia Celina I. , Mendoza Francisco 
Published: December 2023

Background: Breast cancer disparities among minoritized women in the United States (U.S.) not only persist but continue to widen. Neighborhood attributes are established drivers of cancer disparities in the U.S. An emerging area of research centers on the associative relationship of historical processes of segregation, particularly redlining practices, on breast cancer disparities. However, these studies have not considered the differences in contemporary neighborhood attributes in historically segregated and non-segregated neighborhoods. This study focuses on 2019 neighborhood attributes that work together to better understand differences in physical environment access to breast cancer prevention lifestyle habits such as access to fresh produce, green spaces, and clinical sites for prevention screenings.   Methods: Using ArcGIS Pro we created GIS maps of Tucson, Arizona capturing food environments, green spaces, public transportation, and Medicaid cancer screenings site. The current neighborhood attributes were then layered over historic neighborhoods identified from historical documents to determine differences in access to these resources for breast cancer prevention. We used U.S. Census data to map sociodemographic data to the Census tract neighborhood level.   Findings: The GIS maps demonstrate the neighborhoods established by historical segregation have more food deserts, fewer green spaces, limited public transportation, and no Medicaid Well WomanCheck mammography screening sites were located in close proximity to the historically segregated neighborhoods. The historically non-segregated communities did not have similar levels of disinvestment and had a higher presence of resources for non-genetic cancer prevention lifestyle habits.    Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare contemporary neighborhood attributes based on the historical status of segregated and non-segregated to understand how this impacts access to cancer prevention resources that may contribute to breast cancer disparities experienced among historically marginalized communities. The historical legacy of segregation shapes contemporary geographies, structural social determinants of health, and the gaps in non-genetic cancer prevention resources influencing breast cancer disparities. To build health equity, local policymakers must implement policies to address remnants of historical segregation in these communities that still navigate the reverberations of these historical processes. Zoning laws should be considered as a key target for structural interventions to build equitable access to breast cancer prevention infrastructure in neighborhoods established by historical segregation.  

Citation Format: Celina I. Valencia, Francisco Mendoza. Assessing contemporary cancer prevention infrastructure in neighborhoods of historical residential segregation to better understand patterns of breast cancer disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A101.