Clinical Breast Examination Uptake among Reproductive Aged Women in Zambia: Evidence from the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey.
[INTRODUCTION] Breast cancer remains a major cause of mortality among women in sub-Saharan Africa driven, in part, by low screening coverage.
- 표본수 (n) 1,845
- 95% CI 1.08-2.32
- 연구 설계 cross-sectional
APA
Tembo P, Owiredu D, et al. (2026). Clinical Breast Examination Uptake among Reproductive Aged Women in Zambia: Evidence from the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey.. Research square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8380869/v1
MLA
Tembo P, et al.. "Clinical Breast Examination Uptake among Reproductive Aged Women in Zambia: Evidence from the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey.." Research square, 2026.
PMID
41542064
Abstract
[INTRODUCTION] Breast cancer remains a major cause of mortality among women in sub-Saharan Africa driven, in part, by low screening coverage. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of clinical breast examination (CBE) uptake among reproductive-aged women in Zambia.
[METHODS] This cross-sectional study utilized data from 13,876 women aged 15-49 years who participated in the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The outcome variable was derived from participants' response to 'ever having had a breast examination by a health care provider.' Descriptive statistics and survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted in Stata, with all estimates adjusted to account for the complex survey design used in the ZDHS. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.
[RESULTS] Overall, 13.3% (n = 1,845) of women reported ever receiving CBE. Among those screened, the majority were aged 30-39 years (35.4%), resided in urban areas (56.5%), had secondary level education (42.7%) and belonged to the richest wealth quintile (30.5%). Furthermore, only 17.8% of screened women had health insurance, and two-thirds (66.2%) had previously undergone cervical cancer screening. Higher education (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.08-2.32) and health insurance coverage (AOR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.04-1.62) were positively associated with CBE uptake. Women who had visited a health facility in the previous 12 months (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.18-1.61) and those ever screened for cervical cancer (AOR = 5.95; 95% CI: 5.18-6.84) had significantly greater odds of receiving CBE, while women living with HIV were less likely to be screened (AOR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.98). Regional variation was observed with women in Central (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10-1.88), Copperbelt (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.12-1.78), Luapula (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.39-2.72), and Northwestern (AOR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.01-1.77) provinces having higher odds of CBE compared with those in Lusaka, while women in Eastern Province were less likely to receive CBE (AOR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.49-0.95).
[CONCLUSION] There is low utilization of CBE services among women aged 15-49 years in Zambia. Strategies which expand access and utilization of breast cancer screening services are warranted.
[METHODS] This cross-sectional study utilized data from 13,876 women aged 15-49 years who participated in the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The outcome variable was derived from participants' response to 'ever having had a breast examination by a health care provider.' Descriptive statistics and survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted in Stata, with all estimates adjusted to account for the complex survey design used in the ZDHS. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.
[RESULTS] Overall, 13.3% (n = 1,845) of women reported ever receiving CBE. Among those screened, the majority were aged 30-39 years (35.4%), resided in urban areas (56.5%), had secondary level education (42.7%) and belonged to the richest wealth quintile (30.5%). Furthermore, only 17.8% of screened women had health insurance, and two-thirds (66.2%) had previously undergone cervical cancer screening. Higher education (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.08-2.32) and health insurance coverage (AOR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.04-1.62) were positively associated with CBE uptake. Women who had visited a health facility in the previous 12 months (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.18-1.61) and those ever screened for cervical cancer (AOR = 5.95; 95% CI: 5.18-6.84) had significantly greater odds of receiving CBE, while women living with HIV were less likely to be screened (AOR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.98). Regional variation was observed with women in Central (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10-1.88), Copperbelt (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.12-1.78), Luapula (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.39-2.72), and Northwestern (AOR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.01-1.77) provinces having higher odds of CBE compared with those in Lusaka, while women in Eastern Province were less likely to receive CBE (AOR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.49-0.95).
[CONCLUSION] There is low utilization of CBE services among women aged 15-49 years in Zambia. Strategies which expand access and utilization of breast cancer screening services are warranted.