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Abstract
One of the best ways to reduce mortality and morbidity in both breast and cervical cancer is through early detection with the appropriate screening examinations. Although guidelines suggest screening every 2 years for women 50-69 y, mammography screening is considered to be underused among certain groups of Canadian women. Similarly, an important public health concern is the extent to which Canadian women are participating in recent screening for cervical cancer, particularly potentially at-risk groups. Health care satisfaction has been shown to be a determinant of preventative service use, however, no studies in Canada have assessed their role in breast and cervical cancer screening. The present thesis was a secondary data analysis using self-reported data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) to analyze mammography and Pap smear utilization. The conclusions will assist policy makers to design programs and interventions that aim at improving rates of breast and cervical cancer screening among Canadian women.
