An analysis of breast cancer prevention in Brazil

Abstract

This research sets out to study the interrelationship between breast cancer prevention and the socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral, regional and health factors in determining the temporal frequency of tests for prevention by performing mammograms and breast exams in Brazil. Based on the information of the health supplement of the National Sampling Survey of Domiciles of 2008, a sample that includes only women over age 40 was created. To achieve the desired goal, the estimate of the ordered logit model is used to establish partial proportional odds, which revealed the main results as follows. Women with a good socioeconomic status, living in the more developed regions of the country, family structure including children, making a good self-assessment of health and having been diagnosed with some type of cancer in the past. This is the profile of women who are best at preventing breast cancer, both in relation to the demand for mammograms and to a greater demand for breast exam performed by a doctor or a nurse. The results also point to the fact that the majority of those interviewed had either had the tests in question within the previous year, or had never been exposed to such procedures.