Sociodemographic and health-related determinants of breast and cervical cancer screening behavior, 2005.

OBJECTIVES: To identify sociodemographic and health-related determinants of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening behaviors and evaluate progress toward Healthy People 2010 cancer-related objectives.
DESIGN: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2005 data served as the numerical predicate for identifying or validating sociodemographic and health-related quality of life predictors, or both, and for determining any relative progress. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Eleven U.S. states (n = 27,625 women). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Determinants of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and assessment of progress toward Healthy People 2010 objectives 3-11 and 3-13.
RESULTS: Nine significant predictors of annual Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening (reported as odds ratios) were identified through regression analysis: adequate health care coverage, nonsmoking, age between 40 and 64 years, age greater than or equal to 65 years, no activity limitations, Black, non-Hispanic race, income greater than or equal to $35K, current exercise performance, and no risk for high blood cholesterol. Also, Healthy People 2010 objective 3-11 was not met; however, objective 3-13 was exceeded by 2.0%.
CONCLUSIONS: The national health initiatives appear to benefit select American women (overall declining mortality rates from breast and cervical cancer); however, there seems to be a negative economy of scale with respect to age-as age increases, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening declines and morbidity/mortality increases. Given this disparity, as of 2005, related Healthy People 2010 objectives remain unrealized.