Prevalence and risk factors for cervical and breast cancer screening among women in the general population in Indonesia

Abstract

The study aimed at estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with cervical and breast cancer screeningamong women in the general population in Indonesia. The Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS-5) interviewed and examined in a national population-based cross-sectional study in 2014, 10831 women 30 years and older, mean age 46.8 years (SD=13.8). The outcome variables were cervical cancer screening (Pap smear test) and breast cancer screening (breast-self examination and mammography). Covariates included sociodemographic factors, social and lifestyle variables, and chronic conditions. Results indicate that 24.5% of the women ever had heard about Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and 6.3% about mammogrammes. In all, 6.2% reported to have ever had a cervical Pap smear examination, 15.1% had performed breast self-examination in the past 12 months, and 0.2% indicated to have had mammography in the past 12 months. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, older age, higher education, better subjective ecomonic status, residing in an urban area, living in Java or the major island groups, having one or more chronic conditions, having overweight or obesity, frequent vegetable and fruit consumption, and high social capital were associated with both ever having had cervical cancer screening and past 12 months breast-self examination. Cervical and breast cancer screening uptake was very low despite of it being a public health problem in Indonesia. There were large educational, economic, geographic and social disparities in both cervical and breast cancer screening that can be targeted for interventions.

Key words: screening, cervical cancer, breast cancer, psychosocial factors, Indonesia