Okyere Joshua, Simkhada Bibha, Simkhada Padam
School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, England, United Kingdom.
Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
BMC Public Health. 2025 May 31;25(1):2026. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23133-0.
Unmet need for breast cancer screening refers to a situation where women within the recommended screening age group who have engaged with healthcare services in the last 12 months but have never undergone a breast examination by a healthcare professional. Gaining insights into the extent of unmet need for breast cancer screening is essential for designing targeted interventions to improve screening uptake and reduce screening inequalities. It is for this reason that the study sought to examine the prevalence and factors associated with unmet need for breast cancer screening among Ghanaian women.
Using the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, we analyzed data of 3,317 women aged 25-49. Women aged 15-24 years were excluded in line with screening recommendations. Cross-tabulations, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed.
There was a high unmet need for breast cancer screening among women in Ghana (67.7% [65.2-70.1]). Women who reported using the internet often had a lower likelihood of unmet need compared to those who never used the internet (AOR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.64-1.00). Also, women aged 45-49 years had lower odds of unmet need than those aged 25-29 years (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.44-0.78). Compared to those with no formal education, women with secondary education (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.44-0.73) and higher education (AOR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.19-0.37, p < 0.001) had significantly lower odds. Exposure to media was also protective (AOR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.62-0.93). Women who reported that money for treatment (AOR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.01-1.55) and distance to a health facility (AOR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.01-1.55) were big problems had higher odds of unmet need. There was an inverse association between wealth status and unmet need, with poorest women having the highest odds of unmet need for breast cancer screening (AOR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.29-2.57).
Unmet need for breast cancer screening is high in Ghana. Improving formal education, alleviating poverty and addressing health accessibility challenges could significantly reduce the high unmet need for breast cancer screening in Ghana.
乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足是指处于推荐筛查年龄组的女性，在过去12个月内接受过医疗服务，但从未接受过医疗专业人员的乳房检查。深入了解乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足的程度，对于设计有针对性的干预措施以提高筛查参与率和减少筛查不平等至关重要。正是出于这个原因，该研究旨在调查加纳女性中乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足的患病率及其相关因素。
利用2022年加纳人口与健康调查，我们分析了3317名年龄在25 - 49岁之间女性的数据。根据筛查建议，排除了年龄在15 - 24岁之间的女性。进行了交叉表分析、双变量和多变量逻辑回归分析。
加纳女性中乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足的比例很高（67.7%[65.2 - 70.1]）。报告经常使用互联网的女性，其需求未得到满足的可能性低于从未使用过互联网的女性（调整后比值比[AOR]=0.80，95%置信区间[CI]：0.64 - 1.00）。此外，45 - 49岁的女性需求未得到满足的几率低于25 - 29岁的女性（AOR = 0.59，95%CI：0.44 - 0.78）。与未接受过正规教育的女性相比，接受过中等教育的女性（AOR = 0.56，95%CI：0.44 - 0.73）和高等教育的女性（AOR = 0.26，95%CI：0.19 - 0.37，p < 0.001）需求未得到满足的几率显著更低。接触媒体也具有保护作用（AOR = 0.76，95%CI：0.62 - 0.93）。报告治疗费用（AOR = 1.25，95%CI：1.01 - 1.55）和到医疗机构的距离（AOR = 1.25，95%CI：1.01 - 1.55）是大问题的女性，需求未得到满足的几率更高。财富状况与需求未得到满足之间存在负相关，最贫困的女性乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足的几率最高（AOR = 1.82，95%CI：1.29 - 2.57）。
加纳乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足的情况很严重。提高正规教育水平、减轻贫困以及解决医疗可及性挑战，可显著降低加纳乳腺癌筛查需求未得到满足的高比例情况。
