Study that analysed cancer screenings in 30 European countries shows lower-income women continue to be less present
The scientific article also highlights the significant overuse and underuse of breast and cervical cancer screening.
English version: Diana Taborda
A study conducted by the University of Coimbra (UC) which analysed the participation of women from 30 European countries in oncological screening for breast cancer (mammography) and cervical cancer (cytology) reveals that there is still a significant inequality in the performance of these screenings between women with higher and lower income. The scientific article also highlights situations of over-examination and absence of any examination in women belonging to the target groups that should be regularly screened.
Using data provided by the European Health Interview Survey on breast and cervical cancer screening conducted between 2013 and 2015, the UC researchers analysed screening in 30 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The findings were presented in the scientific article "Mirror, mirror on the wall, when are inequalities higher, after all? Analysis of breast and cervical cancer screening in 30 European countries", published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, by Carlota Quintal and Micaela Antunes, researchers of the Centre for Business and Economics Research (CeBER) and professors at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra (FEUC).
The scientific paper is available here.