Breast cancer screening among adult women in China, 2010

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer among women in China. However, China does not have a national screening program or national screening guidelines. Little information on participation in breast cancer screening among Chinese women is available.

We used data from the 2010 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance System that included 53,513 women aged 18 years or older. Women were asked about breast cancer screening participation (any type of screening method), and we examined screening participation rates. We adjusted estimates and performed multivariable logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders.

Overall, 21.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.2%-24.2%) of respondents reported previous breast cancer screening. The participation rates were highest among women aged 30 to 39 years (30.7%; 95% CI, 26.9%-34.4%) and lowest among women 70 years or older (6.3%; 95% CI, 5.1%-7.6%). Compared with women living in the western region, women in the eastern region were 1.5 times more likely to be screened (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0). Compared with women without insurance, women with urban insurance were more likely to be screened (prevalence ratio = 2.6; 95% CI, 2.3-3.0) and be screened within the last 2 years (OR = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.7; P = .04).

Breast cancer screening participation rates among Chinese women were low and varied greatly by age, region, and insurance status. Comprehensive and prioritized strategies are needed to improve breast cancer screening participation among older women, those without medical insurance, and those living in the west.