DIFFERENCES IN BREAST CANCER MORTALITY BETWEEN STATES, POTENTIALLY INDICATING DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES

Breast cancer has emerged as one of the top causes of death among women in India, posing a major health challenge, with its incidence continuously increasing in recent decades. This research examines breast cancer mortality rates in various states of India, utilizing retrospective secondary data sourced from the ‘Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’, ‘Government of India’, ‘Department of Health and Family Welfare’. The objective is to identify state-wise disparities in mortality rates, which may reflect differences in healthcare access and treatment outcomes. Data is taken from multiple open sources and reports provided by the GoI for the years ‘2021–22’. The data analyzed state/UT-wise differences in breast cancer mortality and MIR across India. Statistical techniques such as t-test and OLS regression are used to examine the association between mortality rate, MIR, and factors like urbanization, unemployment, and hospital availability. The results revealed significant disparities in mortality rates across states, with wider variations than incidence rates, suggesting differences in healthcare access and treatment effectiveness. Regression analysis indicated that healthcare infrastructure and socioeconomic factors were not strong predictors of mortality rate. These findings suggest that factors beyond healthcare availability, such as early detection, quality of care, and regional health policies, may play a crucial role in breast cancer survival. Addressing disparities in awareness, screening programs, and treatment accessibility is essential to reducing mortality rates and improving outcomes across states.