The role of a lack of social integration in never having undergone breast cancer screening: Results from a population-based, representative survey in the Paris metropolitan area in 2010

• We examine the influence of social contact on women's breast cancer screening.
• We also determine the socioeconomics characteristics of never screeners.
• Multivariate logistic regressions and bootstraps methods were used.
• Social isolation is associated with never having undergone breast cancer screening.
• Low socioeconomic status is also increasing the risk of never screening.

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the association between social contact and social support and women's breast cancer screening (BCS) practices, taking their socioeconomic status (SES) into account.MethodsThe SIRS survey was conducted in 2010 in the Paris metropolitan area among a representative sample of 3000 French-speaking adults. For the 784 women aged 50 years or older with no history of breast cancer, multivariate logistic regressions and bootstrap methods were used to analyze the factors associated with never having undergone BCS.Results6.5% of these women had never undergone BCS. In multivariate analysis, being older, having a low education level, having poor-quality health insurance, and having one or less than one social contact per 3-day period were significantly associated with never having undergone BCS during their lifetime, but the level of social support was not. The strength of the association with a low frequency of social contact tended to increase with age.ConclusionThis study analyzed the role of social contact in social inequalities in BCS practices in the Paris metropolitan area. Like SES, social integration and social isolation should be taken into consideration by public health professionals and practitioners when planning BCS programs and incentives.