Female migrants’ attitudes and access to cervical and breast cancer screening in Europe

Abstract

Despite the fact that breast and cervical cancers are the most common cancers affecting women in both developed and less developed world, migrants have a lower screening participation rate. This chapter will provide a literature review on female migrants’ attitudes and access to cervical and breast cancer screening in Europe. The aim is to not only present epidemiological data comparing female migrants’ access to screening as compared to nationals, but also to discuss reasons for female migrants’ non-participation in cervical and breast cancer screening. The chapter will also attempt to distinguish factors related to the adaptation of the different types of European Health Systems to diversity from factors related to culture, language and religion that may impact on migrants’ access to health systems and participation in prevention programmes.