Determinants of refusal to undergo breast cancer and cervical cancer screening examinations: A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.2.2026.787Keywords:
breast cancer (BC), cervical cancer (CC), screening, screening refusal, social determinants, barriers, literature reviewAbstract
Relevance: Screening for breast cancer (BC) and cervical cancer (CC) is an effective tool for reducing mortality; however, women’s participation in screening programs remains suboptimal, especially in countries with developing healthcare systems.
The study aimed to systematize and summarize literature data on the determinants of refusal to undergo breast cancer and cervical cancer screening examinations.
Materials and Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted. Publications were searched in the PubMed and Scopus databases for the period 2015–2025. Studies assessing the association between various factors and refusal to undergo screening were included.
Results: The identified barriers were structured into three main categories: socio-demographic factors (rural residence, low level of education and income, patient age), psychological and sociocultural factors (lack of knowledge, fear, embarrassment, fatalism, belief that screening is unnecessary), and organizational factors (remoteness of medical organizations, lack of physician recommendation, systemic shortcomings).
Conclusion: The determinants of refusal to undergo BC and CC screening are multifactorial. The obtained data may be used to develop targeted interventions to increase women’s adherence to screening programs.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ж.М. Момынқұлова, А.Б. Даниярова , Б.С. Имашева , Д.Д. Мирзахметова, А.А. Абдусамедов
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