Factors associated with prostate cancer screening: a population-based study

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of prostate cancer screening among men aged 50 years or older based on socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related behavioral variables and the presence of morbidity. A population-based cross-sectional study was performed. The following factors were associated with failure to undergo screening: age under 70 years; less than eight years of schooling; per capita household income less than one-half the minimum wage; not having diabetes; lack of visual impairment; and lack of visit to the dentist in the previous year. The Brazilian public healthcare system accounted for 41% of the reported prostate cancer screening tests. According to the present study, despite controversy over the effectiveness of digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen for detecting prostate cancer, a significant portion of the male population has been undergoing these tests, the access to which displays significant socioeconomic inequalities.