{"title":"Breast cancer screening rates and influencing factors among LGBTQ groups in Japan.","authors":"Akemi Hara, Akihiko Ozaki, Michio Murakami, Hiroaki Saito, Mika Nashimoto, Daisuke Hori, Masaharu Tsubokura, Kenji Gonda, Masahiro Wada, Kazunoshin Tachibana, Tohru Ohtake, Takahiro Tabuchi","doi":"10.1007/s12282-025-01669-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals face significant health disparities worldwide, particularly in preventive medicine. In Japan, where breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among women, understanding screening behaviors among LGBTQ individuals is crucial for improving public health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between LGBTQ status and breast cancer screening behaviors in Japan, identifying factors influencing screening uptake and highlighting challenges in health management for the LGBTQ community.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), we analyzed breast cancer screening status among 11,056 biological females. Multinomial logistic regression and stratified regression analyzes were employed to examine factors associated with screening behavior, comparing LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>LGBTQ individuals demonstrated significantly lower odds of undergoing breast cancer screening (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.91, p < 0.001) compared to non-LGBTQ individuals. Key factors influencing lower screening rates among individuals in the survey were primarily linked to LGBTQ identity, followed by higher rates of being uninsured, unmarried status, lower income levels, alcohol consumption. Stratified analysis revealed that uninsured LGBTQ individuals had significantly lower odds of screening (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.70, p = 0.01) compared to those with national health insurance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identifies noteworthy differences in breast cancer screening behaviors between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ individuals in Japan, as indicated by lower odds of screening participation among LGBTQ individuals, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including improved healthcare access, LGBTQ-friendly medical environments, and awareness campaigns to address these disparities and promote health equity within the LGBTQ community.</p>","PeriodicalId":56083,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Breast Cancer","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-025-01669-8","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals face significant health disparities worldwide, particularly in preventive medicine. In Japan, where breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among women, understanding screening behaviors among LGBTQ individuals is crucial for improving public health outcomes.
Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between LGBTQ status and breast cancer screening behaviors in Japan, identifying factors influencing screening uptake and highlighting challenges in health management for the LGBTQ community.
Methods: Using data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), we analyzed breast cancer screening status among 11,056 biological females. Multinomial logistic regression and stratified regression analyzes were employed to examine factors associated with screening behavior, comparing LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ groups.
Results: LGBTQ individuals demonstrated significantly lower odds of undergoing breast cancer screening (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.91, p < 0.001) compared to non-LGBTQ individuals. Key factors influencing lower screening rates among individuals in the survey were primarily linked to LGBTQ identity, followed by higher rates of being uninsured, unmarried status, lower income levels, alcohol consumption. Stratified analysis revealed that uninsured LGBTQ individuals had significantly lower odds of screening (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.70, p = 0.01) compared to those with national health insurance.
Conclusion: This study identifies noteworthy differences in breast cancer screening behaviors between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ individuals in Japan, as indicated by lower odds of screening participation among LGBTQ individuals, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including improved healthcare access, LGBTQ-friendly medical environments, and awareness campaigns to address these disparities and promote health equity within the LGBTQ community.
期刊介绍:
Breast Cancer, the official journal of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society, publishes articles that contribute to progress in the field, in basic or translational research and also in clinical research, seeking to develop a new focus and new perspectives for all who are concerned with breast cancer. The journal welcomes all original articles describing clinical and epidemiological studies and laboratory investigations regarding breast cancer and related diseases. The journal will consider five types of articles: editorials, review articles, original articles, case reports, and rapid communications. Although editorials and review articles will principally be solicited by the editors, they can also be submitted for peer review, as in the case of original articles. The journal provides the best of up-to-date information on breast cancer, presenting readers with high-impact, original work focusing on pivotal issues.