Abstract:
Objective: To determine the uptake of mammography among Ghanaian women aged 40 years or older
and to examine critical risk factors that influence the uptake.
Study design: A cross-sectional survey.
Methods: A nationally representative sample of 2787 women and 1948 men aged 18 years were surveyed
in the Wave 2 (2014-2015) of the World Health Organization's multicountry study on AGEing and
adult health in Ghana. Of the 2787 women aged 18 years, data on a total of 2301 women aged 40
years were included in this study. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were applied
to examine critical risk factors for mammogram examination.
Results: Of the 2301 women sampled, only 83 (3.61%) ever had mammogram. The odds of mammogram
examination were lower for women aged 70 years (odds ratio [OR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]:
0.19, 0.93), being self-employed (OR ¼ 0.21, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.42) and being informal sector employee
(OR ¼ 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.57) in the multivariable analyses. Belonging to the Ewe ethnic group (OR¼3.41,
95% CI:1.88, 6.16) compared to the Akan group was associated with increased odds of mammogram
examination in the multivariable analysis. Women aged 70 years, being self-employed, being an
informal employee and belonging to the Ewe ethnic group were independently associated with
mammography examination.
Conclusion: The prevalence of screening for breast cancer using mammography among Ghanaian women
aged 40 years and older was 3.6%. Age, type of employer and ethnicity were associated with an older
adult woman's likelihood to access mammography screening. Overall, our study provided critical data to
encourage and promote good health-seeking behaviour in terms of breast cancer screening among older
adult women. Further qualitative studies are warranted to explore why some of these factors influence
mammography.
