Why do women refrain from mammography screening?

Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for middle-aged women in Sweden. Approximately 600,000 women are surveyed annually within the national screening program. However, 20% of Swedish women do not participate in mammography screening. Participation in mammography screening is a complex phenomenon that has many dimensions. The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why women refrain from mammography screening from the perspective of non-attending women.

Method: A qualitative approach was chosen, and 10 women were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: Two categories were identified: individual needs and absence of active promotion. "Non-personalized system" was the main theme that emerged from the analysis.

Conclusion: The mammography screening does not adapt to the needs of each individual. This may be the reason why some women refrain from mammography screening.