Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(2):90-95 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6623

Breast and cervical cancer screening attendance among Czech women

Anna Altová¹, Ivana Kulhánová^{1, 2}, Lukáš Brůha³, Michala Lustigová^{2, 4}

¹ Department of Demography and Geodemography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

² Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

³ Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Cartography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

⁴ National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the variation in breast and cervical cancer screening attendance among Czech women by age and in regions in 2009-2017.

Methods: The data from the health insurance company that covers around 50% of the Czech population were used to calculate age-specific attendance rates and standardized attendance rates by year and region.

Results: In 2017, the attendance of all eligible women was 52% in breast cancer screening and 46% in cervical cancer screening. There were differences in attendance among groups of women. Women aged 45-49 had attendance rates in both screenings around 60%, while 39% of women aged 75-79 attended breast cancer screening, and 23% attended cervical cancer screening. In regions, attendance ranged from 38% to 70% in breast cancer screening and from 32% to 55% in cervical cancer screening.

Conclusions: We identified the age-specific differences and regional variation in both breast and cervical cancer screening attendance among Czech women. Those with lower attendance may have a higher risk of dying from breast and cervical cancers. Mitigating this risk should be a priority of public health policies.

Keywords: cancer screening, breast cancer, cervical cancer, cancer prevention, Czechia

Received: November 12, 2020; Revised: May 5, 2021; Accepted: May 5, 2021; Published: June 30, 2021  Show citation