Breast Screen Service Characteristics as a Measure of Accessibility

Abstract

Breast Screen Australia is a national breast cancer screening program which aims to reduce illness and death from breast cancer through early detection using mammography. Through this program women aged 40 and over in Australia are eligible for a free mammogram every two years. Around 55% of the target population participate in the program. Understanding the accessibility of breast screen services has the potential to improve the uptake of screening services. Spatial analysis of individual breast screen services: opening hours, disability and accessibility infrastructure, parking and transport data can be used to describe the accessibility of breast screen services. Through highlighting regional accessibility to breast screen services it is possible to identify regions where accessibility to services could be increased to improved equity in health service provision.