Access to mammography facilities and breast cancer stage at diagnosis: Does geographic distance predict?

This study examined the association between access to mammo-graphy facilities and breast cancer stage at diagnosis in an urban population. Data on female breast cancer cases were obtained from an extensive mammography surveillance project. The Floating Catchment Area Method, considering all available facilities within an arbitrary radius from woman's residence, was used to assess access to mammography facilities. Results showed that odds of breast cancer being diagnosed at an advanced stage were higher for women who had greater access compared to women who had lower access to mammogram facilities. Greater access did not assure breast cancer to be diagnosed at less advanced stage due to constraints imposed by socio economic and cultural barriers. Future studies should measure access to mammography facilities capturing a broader dimension of access.