Health · Public Health & Disease · 1 hr ago
Four in 10 Italian women say they never received a breast screening invitation
A survey of 2,000 women in Italy found that four in 10 had never received a breast screening invitation.
The share was higher in the South, where seven in 10 said no invitation had reached them.
Among women who received an invitation, 73% said they attended screening, with participation higher in the North than in the South and islands.
Of those who did not attend, 59% said they had recently arranged the test themselves, while 3% cited lack of interest.
The findings were presented at an event in Rome during Italy’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting uneven access to screening across the country.
Salute Donna Odv called for more effective invitations, simpler information and more flexible appointments, as well as wider access to prevention and early diagnosis.
Four in 10 Italian women say they have never received an invitation for breast screening, according to a survey by Salute Donna Odv.
The share rises to seven in 10 in southern Italy.
Among women who received an invitation, 73% said they attended screening.
Attendance was 80% in the north, 69% in central Italy, 54% in the south and 53% on the islands.
The findings were presented at a news conference at the Chamber of Deputies.
- Who
- Salute Donna Odv surveyed 2,000 women.
- What
- Four in 10 women said they had never received an invitation for breast screening.
- When
- The findings were presented on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Italy; the results were presented at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.
- Why
- The survey highlighted gaps in access to breast screening and the need to improve prevention and early diagnosis.
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- Survey size
- 2,000 women
- Never received an invitation
- 4 in 10 women
- Southern Italy without an invitation
- 7 in 10 women
- Attendance among women invited
- 73%
- Attendance in the north
- 80%
- Attendance on the islands
- 53%
What people are saying
More effective invitations, simple information channels and greater flexibility in appointments are needed, especially in areas where regional differences are more marked; structural measures are also needed to improve and extend access to breast cancer prevention and early diagnosis.
As a parliamentary group, we will continue to support dialogue and collaboration among all those involved, so that prevention becomes increasingly accessible, appropriate and effective and provides a concrete guarantee of health protection throughout the country.