An Intersectional Perspective on the Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening among Migrants. A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Survey Data from Austria.

Abstract

Simple SummaryStudies from several countries have shown that migrant women utilize cervical cancer screening less frequently than non-migrant women. Little is known about how disparities differ across different countries of origin. The present study addresses this limitation by means of 2019 survey data from Austria. Comparing the five largest groups of migrants residing in the country, the results show that particularly Turkish migrant women have a lower utilization than the Austrian majority population. This illustrates the heterogeneity of migrants and likely results from different obstacles some groups of migrants encounter in the health system. The findings may contribute to raising the awareness of the heterogeneity of the migrant population and to providing cancer screening interventions tailored to different cultural backgrounds, consequently improving overall access to cancer screening for particularly disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups.In most European countries, migrant women have lower rates of cervical cancer screening utilization than non-migrant women. While studies have illustrated that disparities can be partially explained by social determinants, they usually did not take into account the heterogeneity of the migrant population in terms of cultural background or country of origin. Applying an intersectional approach and using 2019 data from a representative survey from Austria on 6228 women aged 20–69 years, the present study examines differences in the utilization of cervical cancer screening in the five largest migrant groups (i.e., individuals with a nationality from or born in a Yugoslav successor state, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, or Germany) residing in Austria. By means of a multivariable analysis, amongst others adjusted for socioeconomic and health-related determinants, it is illustrated that particularly Turkish migrant women have a lower utilization than the Austrian majority population (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.60; 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.40–0.91), while no significant differences between the majority population and other groups of migrants became evident. The findings are indicative of the heterogeneity of migrants and likely result from different obstacles some groups of migrants encounter in the health system. This heterogeneity must be taken into account in order to support informed decision-making and to ensure adequate preventive care.