Inequalities in mammography in Brazil: a national analysis

Background: Early diagnosis is the best way to reduce mortality and to improve the survival of women with breast cancer. In Brazil, there are few studies that provide detailed data on inequalities in the access of mammography. Objective: Investigate the inequalities associated with mammography in Brazil among women between 50 and 69 years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Brazil. The outcome was access to mammography. The independent variables were: age, race/skin color, census region (urban/rural), macroregion, educational level, per capita income, coverage by health insurance and use of medical service in the last 12 months. Poisson regression was performed to test the association and calculate crude and adjusted models. Results: The prevalence of mammography was 54.2% (95%CI 53.1-55.3).The prevalence of non-mammographywas higher among women from the Northeast, living in a rural region, aged 60-69 years, with lower income and educational level and who did not have a health insurance. Conclusions: There are important inequalities in the access to mommagraphy in Brazil that need to be addressed by effective public policies.