Investigating socioeconomic inequality in the incidence of breast cancer in Iran: Interprovincial analysis and comparison

Background and Aim: Breast cancer has been identified as the most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the world. Non-clinical risk factors such as socioeconomic status can lead to inequality in the outcomes of the disease. This study aimed to analyze the provincial socio-economic inequality in the incidence of breast cancer in the country. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed using Iranian provincial data. The required data are obtained from the statistical yearbook report, the report of the Statistics Center and, the national report of the National Cancer Registration Program of the Ministry of Health of Iran in 1397. Extraction of density curves was performed by statistical analysis using STATA 14. Results: The results of the study showed that provincial per capita income caused the most inequality (CI = 0.113) in cancer incidence (P <0.05). Provincial literacy rate with CI = 0.112 was in the next rank of inequality (P <0.05). The value of the concentration index (CI) of the province's socio-economic development index was also estimated to be 0.110 (P <0.05). The effect of health insurance coverage on inequality in cancer incidence (CI = -0.094) was also statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion: It is suggested that policymakers facilitate early detection of cancer in provinces with lower socioeconomic status by providing insurance coverage for screening services, distribution of screening credit cards, payment exemptions, and public awareness.