Return to work in low-income Latina and non-Latina white breast cancer survivors: A 3-year longitudinal study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous research has found an 80% return-to-work rate in mid-income white breast cancer survivors, but little is known about the employment trajectory of low-income minorities or whites. We set out to compare the trajectories of low-income Latina and non-Latina white survivors and to identify correlates of employment status. METHODS: Participants were low-income women who had localized breast cancer, spoke English or Spanish, and were employed at the time of diagnosis. Interviews were conducted 6, 18, and 36 months after diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent correlates of employment status at 18 months. RESULTS: Of 290 participants, 62% were Latina. Latinas were less likely than non-Latina whites to be working 6 months (27% vs 49%; P =.0002) and 18 months (45% vs 59%; P =.02) after diagnosis, but at 36 months there was no significant difference (53% vs 59%; P =.29). Latinas were more likely to be manual laborers than were non-Latina whites (P