Vital signs: breast cancer screening among women aged 50-74 years - United States, 2008.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States. Screening with treatment has lowered breast cancer mortality.


METHODS
Every 2 years, CDC uses Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to estimate mammography prevalence in the United States. Up-to-date mammography prevalence is calculated for women aged 50-74 years who report they had the test in the preceding 2 years.


RESULTS
For 2008, overall, age-adjusted, up-to-date mammography prevalence for U.S. women aged 50-74 years was 81.1%, compared with 81.5% in 2006. Among the lowest prevalences reported were those by women aged 50-59 years (79.9%), persons who did not finish high school (72.6%), American Indian/Alaska Natives (70.4%), those with annual household income <$15,000 (69.4%), and those without health insurance (56.3%). Highest mammography prevalence was among residents of the northeastern United States.


CONCLUSIONS
In recent years, mammography rates have plateaued. Critical gaps in screening remain for certain racial/ethnic groups and lower socioeconomic groups, and for the uninsured.


CONCLUSIONS
Health-care reform is likely to increase access by increasing insurance coverage and by reducing out-of-pocket costs for mammography screening. Widespread implementation of evidence-based interventions also will be needed to increase screening rates. These include patient and provider reminders to schedule a mammogram, use of small media (e.g., videos, letters, brochures, and flyers), one-on-one education of women, and reduction of structural barriers (e.g., more convenient hours and attention to language, health literacy, and cultural factors).
D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007198:Indians, North American; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D017010:Reminder Systems; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology