Self-reported barriers to mammography screening were primarily driven by knowledge and awareness gaps (58.2%), with significant disparities by race/ethnicity, region, and age (P<0.001).
Cross-Sectional (n=47,900,000)
Yes
What are the barriers to mammography screening among US women aged 40 and older, and how do they vary by demographics?
Knowledge and awareness gaps are the primary barriers to mammography screening among US women aged 40 and older, with significant variations by race, region, and age.
Abstract Background: Screening mammography is recommended for women aged 40 years and older. Understanding barriers to screening mammogram and identifying disparate populations is critical for implementing these recommendations equitably. Methods: This cross-sectional study used National Health Interview Survey data from 2021 and 2023. Women aged 40+ who reported not having a mammogram in the past 2 years or ever were included (N=47.9 million weighted). Self-reported reasons were categorized as knowledge/awareness barriers (no reason, didn't know needed, doctor didn't order, no problem), behavioral barriers (put it off, too painful), cost/access barriers (too expensive, no doctor), age-related perceptions (too young/old), and other reasons. Complex survey design examined barrier patterns by race/ethnicity, region, urban-rural status, and age group (P.05). Results: Overall, knowledge/awareness barriers dominated (58.2%), followed by behavioral (14.0%), other (12.7%), age-related (9.0%), and cost/access barriers (6.2%). Significant disparities existed across race/ethnicity (P.001), region (P.001), and age (P.001), but not urban-rural status (P=.40) (Table). Non-Hispanic Asian women had highest knowledge barriers but lowest cost barriers. Hispanic women had highest cost barriers. Women aged 50-64 had highest behavioral and cost barriers, while women 65+ had minimal cost barriers but high age-related misperceptions. Southern women faced both high knowledge and cost barriers versus other regions. Conclusions: While knowledge and awareness gaps are the primary barriers to mammography screening among US women aged 40 and older, the specific types of barriers vary substantially by race/ethnicity, geographic region, and age. These disparities underscore the need for targeted, population-specific strategies to improve equitable access to mammography screening. Citation Format: Anas Al-Zubaidi. Barriers to mammography screening among US women aged 40 and older: Disparities by race, region, and age abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2373.
Anas Mahdi AL-ZUBAIDI (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Barriers to mammography screening (n=47,900,000). Self-reported barriers to mammography screening were primarily driven by knowledge and awareness gaps (58.2%), with significant disparities by race/ethnicity, region, and age (P<0.001).