Utilization of screening mammography as a preventive practice prior to initiating a population-based breast cancer screening program

Factors associated with the level of utilization of screening mammography a s a preventive practice were analyzed prior to initiating a population-base d breast cancer screening program. A questionnaire was used to collect info rmation about screening mammography utilization during the last 4 years amo ng women invited to enroll in the program. Sociodemographic and health fact ors, and health services utilization were studied. A screening mammography in the last 4 years had been performed on 59.3% of the 8867 women interview ed. The utilization of mammography was higher among women who were younger, had a higher education level, or had previous visits to a physician (P < 0 .001). The variables more strongly associated with use of screening mammogr aphy were: visit to a gynecologist and performance of a pap smear. Also ass ociated with the utilization of screening mammography were: personal histor y of breast pathology, family history of breast cancer, breast self-examina tion, and recent visit to a general practitioner. Self-perceived health pre sented an inverse relation with screening mammography use (P < 0.001). The use of screening mammography appears to have increased in recent years, alt hough inequalities persist which the breast cancer screening programs help to modulate. Mammographic frequency only would be deemed appropriate by the European guidelines in fewer than one-half of the cases. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.