The prevalence and correlates of cancer screening uptake among women and men in a National Population-Based Sample in Guyana

Abstract

The goal of the study was assessing the prevalence and factors associated with cancer screening screening among the general adult population in Guyana. Participants were 2,662, 18–69-year-old inhabitants (Median=37.4 years), 1068 (40.1%) were men, and 1594 (59.9%) women from the national cross-sectional “2016 Guyana STEPS survey”. Survey questions on cancer screening included clinical breast examination, mammography, Pap smear or Vaginal Inspection with Acetic Acid (=VIA), faecal occult blood test (FOBT), colonoscopy, and prostate examination . Results indicate that the prevalence of ever mammography screening was 10.1% (13.8% ever and 6.6% in the past 2 years aged 40-69 years), CBE 29.1%, Pap smear or VIA 23.0% (24.3% ever and 6.6% in the past 2 years aged 21 -65 years), FOBT 13.2% (17.0% ever aged 50-69 years), colonoscopy 2.0% (3.9% ever aged 50-69 years), and prostate examination 6.7% (12.8% ever aged 40-69 years). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, having more than secondary education, being African/Black, Amerindian, and being mixed and other, being married or cohabiting, blood pressure and cholesterol screening and childhood sexual abuse were positively, and current smoking was inversely associated with Pap smear or VIA screening. Being African/Black, being Mixed or other, cholesterol screening and high physical activity were positively, and past smoking and obesity was negatively associated with mammography uptake. Being male, African/Black, and divorced, separated of widowed were positively and childhood sexual abuse was negatively associated with colonoscopy, and being African/Black, Amerindian, Mixed or other ethnicity, and cholesterol screening were positively, and binge drinking was negatively associated with prostate examination. Low cancer screening uptake was found calling for enhanced cancer screening in Guyana.