Mammography utilization pattern throughout the state of Arkansas: a challenge for the future.

The Mammography Data Collection Project (MDCP) was aimed at determining the 1997 mammography rate and screening practice patterns throughout the state of Arkansas. The MDCP conducted a comprehensive survey of mammography centers to collect individual patient demographic data, and mammography data. Data elements pertinent to patients' age, race, insurance, type of mammogram, date of mammogram, and the zip code were obtained from participating centers. Analysis was performed to determine the mammography rate by age group and areas of residence. Of the 112 eligible mammography centers contacted, 92 centers (82%) participated. A total of 157,976 mammography data sets were obtained. The total number of women imaged was 148,586 with 90% of them over the age of 40 years. The mammography rate was 24.1% for women 50 years of age and older and 19.4% for women 40-49 years of age. Most of the women imaged had private insurance (52%). This study revealed that only a small fraction of women ages 40 years and older obtained annual mammograms in 1997, thus highlighting the need for intensifying efforts to increase the utilization of this lifesaving test.