Results of breast cancer screening in first generation migrants in Northwest Netherlands

To determine breast cancer screening results according to country of birth data were used from the breast cancer screening organization of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Overall (age-adjusted) attendance of the breast cancer screening was 76% for women aged 50-69. Attendance was significantly lower for women born in non-western countries (Surinam 59%, Turkey 44% and Morocco 37%) and for women with residence in Amsterdam (68%). Referral and detection rates for women from non-western countries were 5.1 and 2.2 per 1000 screened women, respectively, compared with 8.8 and 4.0 for women born in The Netherlands (P<0.05). The positive predictive value was 45% for women born in The Netherlands and western countries and 43% for women born in non-western countries. Although women born in non-western countries attend breast cancer screening less frequently than women born in The Netherlands, they also have a low detection rate. The latter finding justifies a passive attitude towards the low attendance.