Breast screening rate - participation | National Cancer Control Indicators

Published

29 Jun, 2020

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.¹ One in 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women will develop the disease.²

The proportion of women screened through BreastScreen Australia is a key performance indicator for the national breast screening program. BreastScreen Australia’s National Accreditation Standards (NAS) aims for 70% or more of women in the target age range to participate in national breast screening program.¹

Summary

Breast screening participation rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are increasingFrom 2014–2015 to 2016-2017, participation rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females in the target age range 50–74 years increased from 37.3% in to 40.7%.

Data

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Notes

• Indigenous status is self-reported. Data does not include women in the 'not stated' category.
• Data sourced from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2019.
• Rates are age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population.
• When presenting data of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples we will be respectfully using the term Indigenous Australians.

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in target age range screened through BreastScreen Australia in a 2-year period
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Data Table

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Figure

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Notes

• Indigenous status is self-reported. Data does not include women in the 'not stated' category.
• Data sourced from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2019.
• Rates are age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population.
• When presenting data of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples we will be respectfully using the term Indigenous Australians.

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 50-74 years screened through BreastScreen Australia in a 2-year period.

About this measure

Between 2010 and 2014, there were 984 new cases of breast cancer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females and 5 cases for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males.³ In 2016-2017 the incidence of breast cancer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females was 308 new cases per 100,000 females.

In 2013-2017 the mortality rate from breast cancer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females aged 50-74, was 52 deaths per 100,000 women.¹

The rate of breast cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females is higher compared to the other females within the Australian community (see NCCI website). However contributing factors to the dispartites may be attributed to, but not limited to, the younger age at diagnosis, socioeconomic disadvantages, living in remote geographical locations and lower participation rates in screening programs.^1,2

Breast screening aims to detect breast cancers in asymptomatic women, thereby enabling intervention at an early stage of disease and, as a result, better survival outcomes.⁴ Australian governments have made early detection of breast cancer a priority, with the BreastScreen Australia program receiving funding support from Commonwealth and state/territory governments since 1990. The program originally focused on biennial screening of women aged 50–69 years, but the Federal Budget in 2013-14 allowed for extension of the BreastScreen Australia program from July 2013 to actively invite women aged 70–74 years. Participation data are reported for the target age range of 50–74 years for the 2-year period 2014–15, onwards.³

For a comparison with the broader Australian community see the NCCI 'Breast screening rates'.

Current status

During 2016–2017, two in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females within the target age range participated in breast screening. The age-standardised participation rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females aged 50–74 years during this period was 40.7%.¹ Participation rates were higher among females aged 60–64 years (45.7%) and 65–69 years (46.4%) than among females aged 50–54 years (35.7%), 55–59 years (39.5%), and 70–74 years (40.1%).¹

Trends

The age-standardised participation rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females in the target age range 50–74 years increased from 37.3% in 2014–2015 to 40.7% in 2016–2017.¹

From 1996–1997 to 2016–2017, the age-standardised participation rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females aged 50–69 years (which was the target age range of BreastScreen Australia up to 2013) increased by more than 50% (from 25.0% in 1996–1997 to 40.8% in 2016–2017).¹

Addressing barriers to screening

Breast screening rates are lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females aged 50–74 (40.7%), compared to other females within the Australian community (54.2%).¹ Lower participation rates may reflect a decrease in opportunities to access screening or a difference in screening behaviour. There may also be a degree of under reporting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in BreastScreen data.¹

To address barriers to screening and improve participation rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, BreastScreen Australia co-designed materials and communications activities in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.^1,4 These activities were designed to be culturally sensitive and appropriate to the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs and include group bookings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who would prefer to attend as a group, and the use of cultural shawls and Indigenous artwork.^1,4

About the data

This measure shows the proportion of women aged 50–74 years screened through BreastScreen Australia in a rolling 2-year period. Data for women aged 50–69 years (previous target age range) are also shown.

Numerator: Number of women in the target age range having received a mammogram through the national screening program over a 24-month period.

Denominator: Average number of female residents in the target age range during the 2-year reporting period.

Methodology

Rates are age-standardised unless otherwise specified.

Note that participation is measured over 2 years to align with the 2-year recommended screening interval, as most women will only screen once within a 2-year period. A consequence of measuring participation over 2 years on an annual basis is that there are ‘rolling’ participation rates, in which there is an overlap of 1 calendar year between any 2 consecutive rates.

Caveats:

The program only includes asymptomatic women aged 50–74 years.

Indigenous status is self-reported by women at the time of their screening. Data does not include women in the 'not stated' category. Caution is advised when using this data as it may not reflect the true population.

Data sources

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2019. Cancer series no. 127. Cat. no. CAN 128. Canberra: AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2018. Cancer series no. 112. Cat. no. CAN 116. Canberra: AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2014–2015. Cancer series no. 106. Cat. no. CAN 105. Canberra: AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2013–2014. Cancer series no. 100. Cat. no. CAN 99. Canberra: AIHW

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2015. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2012–2013. Cancer series no.95. Cat. no. CAN 93. Canberra: AIHW

References

Data:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. AIHW cancer screening publications: Accessed April 2020; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/health-welfare-services/cancer-screening/overview.

Policy:

Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Evaluation of the BreastScreen Australia Program – Evaluation Final Report – June 2009. Screening Monograph No.1/2009. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2009. Available from: http://cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/programme-evaluation.

Cancer Australia. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Framework. 2015 Available from: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/cancer-australia-publications/overlay-context=affected-cancer/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-cancer-framework

Cancer Australia. Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. 2018 Available from: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/cancer-australia-publications/optimal-care-pathway-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-cancer

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2019. Cancer series no. 127. Cat. no. CAN 128. Canberra: AIHW.

2. Tapia KA, Garvey G, Mc Entee M, Rickard M, Brennan P. Breast cancer in Australian Indigenous women: incidence, mortality, and risk factors. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017; 18(4): 873–884. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.4.873

3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. Cancer in Australia 2019. Cancer series no.119. Cat. no. CAN 123. Canberra: AIHW.

4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018. BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2018. Cancer series no. 112. Cat. no. CAN 116. Canberra: AIHW

Revision Type

Major

Version Number

1.0.0

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Summary

Breast screening participation rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are increasing

Data