ObjectiveTo investigate the current situation of breast cancer screening behaviors, and effects of the socioeconomic status on breast cancer screening behaviors among adult women in Anhui province.

MethodsA total of 1 897 women aged 18-70 years in Anhui province were selected by snowball sampling and convenience sampling.The level of education, annual family income and occupation type were used to comprehensively measure the socioeconomic status.The principal component analysis was used to construct the socioeconomic comprehensive score.

ResultsThe breast self-examination rate, breast clinical examination rate and mammography examination rate of adult women were 19.87%, 13.65% and 3.74%, respectively.The breast self-examination and clinical examination of adult women in Anhui province were positively correlated with the comprehensive scores of education level, annual family income, occupational type and socio-economic status(P<0.01).With the increase of socioeconomic status, the breast self-examination, clinical examination and mammography of adult women in Anhui province increased significantly(P<0.01).The probability of breast self-examination in women with middle and high socioeconomic status were 2.199 and 3.396 times that in women with low socioeconomic status, respectively.The probability of breast clinical examination in women with middle and high socioeconomic status were 1.994 and 2.921 times that in women with low socioeconomic status, respectively.The probability of mammography in women with middle and high socioeconomic status were 1.988 and 2.345 times that in women with low socioeconomic status, respectively.

ConclusionsThere are significant socioeconomic status differences in breast cancer screening behavior among adult women in Anhui province.Women with lower socioeconomic status should be the key population for breast cancer prevention and control in the future.