Between Equity and Exclusion: Socioeconomic Factors in Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention in Colombia
Keywords:
cancer, disease prevention, preventive medicine, women's health, public health, health policy, health services, social inequality, socioeconomic conditions, women, Colombia, econometricsMain Article Content
Introduction
Breast and cervical cancer represent a critical public health challenge in Colombia. Although early detection significantly reduces mortality, sustained access to these preventive screenings faces profound socioeconomic and territorial barriers.
Objective
To analyze the influence of individual, familial, and contextual determinants on the temporal frequency of undergoing cervical cytology tests (Pap smears) and mammograms among Colombian women who reported having undergone at least one of these examinations.
Methodology
Representative microdata from the 2015 National Demographic and Health Survey were used. Through econometric estimations using partially generalized ordered Logit models, the probability of adherence to different screening periodicities was evaluated, incorporating an intersectional approach.
Results
The estimations reveal marked equity gaps. Belonging to the contributory health insurance regime or having a higher level of education increases the probability of sustaining annual screenings by 3.7% to 5.3%. In contrast, living in rural areas, being in the lowest wealth quintiles, or belonging to vulnerable populations drastically decreases the consistency required by oncological prevention schemes.
Conclusions
Screening dynamics reveal systemic inequalities that restrict sustained self-care. It is imperative to formulate targeted public policies that expand medical infrastructure in marginalized areas, strengthen health literacy, and implement differentiated strategies to ensure effective social justice within the healthcare system.
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