Unmet needs for breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: Insights from the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed globally among women and a significant contributor to cancer deaths. In Tanzania, several studies have been done on breast cancer screening, but there is a paucity of evidence regarding unmet needs in Tanzania. Therefore, this study aims to identify various unmet needs for breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing the nationally representative data. All analyses were conducted using STATA version 18.5 Descriptive statistics and generalized Poisson regression model were used to identify factors associated with unmet need for breast cancer screening. Adjusted Prevalence Ratios (APR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were presented, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: There was a high unmet need for breast cancer screening among women in Tanzania (54.1%, 95%CI: 52.5–55.6). Factors associated with unmet needs were women with primary education (APR=1.11, 95%CI: 1.03-1.18) and secondary or higher education (APR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.01-1.20) were more likely to have unmet need for breast cancer than their counterparts. Women who reported money for treatment is a big problem were 16% more likely to have unmet need for breast cancer screening (APR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.0-1.22) than their counterparts. Women with a big problem in distance to the health facility were more likely to have unmet need for breast cancer screening compared to their counterparts (APR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.01-1.12). Conclusion: The study showed a persistent high unmet need for breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Tanzania highlights a critical public health challenge. Achieving a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality in Tanzania requires a concerted national strategy that integrates health education, infrastructure development, and policy reforms to ensure equitable access to timely and effective screening services for all women.