Project: Breast cancer screening in women with intellectual disabilities

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience many barriers regarding their health and health care. Breast cancer is the most common cancer with the highest mortality rate among women, whereas national breast cancer screening programs have proven to be effective. However, international data suggests that women with ID are less likely to participate in screening programs and breast cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, which is associated with a poorer prognosis and results in higher mortality rates.

In Austria, there is no data available regarding the participation of women with ID in the national breast cancer screening program, nor regarding relevant factors that facilitate or hinder participation.

The aims of the project are to determine the participation rate of women with ID in the Austrian breast cancer screening program, to gather factors that facilitate as well as hinder participation and to identify needs for successful participation.