What does a lower odds ratio indicate regarding mammography utilization for women below the poverty line?

• A. A higher likelihood of utilization
• B. A decreased likelihood of utilization
• C. An unchanged likelihood of utilization
• D. Equal likelihood of utilization

Answer: (B)

A lower odds ratio indicates a decreased likelihood of mammography utilization among women below the poverty line. The odds ratio is a measure of the association between an exposure (in this case, income level) and an outcome (here, the utilization of mammography). If the odds ratio is less than one, it signifies that the odds of the event occurring—in this case, women below the poverty line utilizing mammography—are lower compared to a reference group. Therefore, a lower odds ratio reflects a negative association, indicating that these women are less likely to engage in mammography services than those not in poverty. Understanding this relationship is crucial for identifying health disparities and developing targeted interventions to promote breast cancer screening among underserved populations.