Breast cancer occurs when breast cells proliferate uncontrollably and form tumors (1, 2). Breast cancer among women was the first leading cancer worldwide in 2020, with 2.3 million cases diagnosed and 685,000 deaths. It will also continue to be the leading cancer over the next two Decades, estimated to increase by about 50% in 2040 (over 3 million cases and 1 million deaths) (3). Breast cancer affects one in every 20 women worldwide, and as many as one in every eight in high-income nations (4). It is the most prevalent cancer in Africa, with an estimated 497,127 cases and 309,637 deaths in 2020, and the burden of breast cancer is projected to about double by 2040 (946,424 cases and 598,511 deaths) (3). Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the greatest mortality-to-incidence ratio, with around 80% of cases presenting with locally advanced and metastatic disease upon diagnosis and poor survival (3, 5).

Breast cancer can be prevented through effective intervention of modifiable risk factors and early identification of the disease by screening (4, 6). The WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) in 2021, intending to reduce breast cancer incidence by 2.5% per year by 2040 through health promotion, early detection by screening, and treatment (comprehensive breast cancer management) (7). Breast cancer screening offers tests to asymptomatic women to seek medical attention (8). Screening could be performed in either an opportunistic or systematic approach. Opportunistic screening takes place when a woman without signs of breast cancer is referred for screening tests outside of a formal program, which aids in the early detection of non-palpable breast malignancies (9). Systematic screening, on the other hand, refers to a formal screening process for a specified population implemented by a health facility, or regional or national government (Ministry of Health) (8, 10). This strategy is most likely to accomplish early diagnosis in a large portion of the population, but it is also the most costly screening approach (10).

Screening can be performed using clinical breast examination (CBE), breast self-examination, or mammography (8). A Clinical Breast cancer screening is performed through a detailed history, physical examination (inspection and palpation of the breast in various positions), and lymph node examination by the clinician or healthcare practitioner (10). It aids in assessing masses, lesions, and skin changes, distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions, determining the stage of disease, counseling, planning effective therapy, and documenting clinical data for audit and follow-up (10–12).

Although breast cancer has become a public health problem in SSA, reducing the disease through screening is inadequate, resulting in late diagnosis of breast cancer and poor outcomes (13–15). A multitude of factors at the individual, system, or community level could contribute to low access to and use of breast cancer screening. Lack of awareness about breast cancer or the screening process, fear of the screening process or being diagnosed with cancer, financial concerns and screening associated costs, stigma and poor attitude about the screening, misconceptions, low health education material access, low training opportunities to healthcare providers, inequity in resource allocation, distance to the screening program, low health system commitment, and poor integration of the program into the existing health system contribute to poor screening uptake in the region (16–19).

Although several studies have been conducted in SSA countries to address breast cancer screening, they were undertaken at one country or sub-country level and did not consider both individual and beyond individual factors related to screening. Evidence about the pooled prevalence as well as multilevel correlates of screening in the region is sparse (20–22). Hence, the current study addressed the evidence gap by estimating the prevalence and multilevel factors related to screening among women in SSA using the most recent standard Demographic Health Survey data (2013–2022). The knowledge will assist public health planners and policymakers in devising targeted intervention strategies to improve screening rates by working on individual and community level determinants of screening. In addition, studying prevalence using the most recent DHS data enables the evaluation of the influence of measures such as awareness campaigns, screening programs, and policy changes aimed at raising screening uptake.

The pooled prevalence of clinical breast cancer screening in SSA was 14.23(95% CI: 13.97, 14.75), which varied significantly across countries. Higher screening rate was observed among women with advanced age (35–49 years), urban residents, higher educational levels, and richest wealth quintile, in Marital relationships (cohabited), multiparous, visiting health facilities, and reading newspapers. This prevalence is higher than a previous study conducted in developing countries (11.4%) (27) but lower than studies conducted in 14 low-resource countries (15.41%) (28), Thailand (40.1%) (29), Iran (29.3%) (30), and Malaysia (77.7%) (31). Low coverage in SSA May be due to a lack of awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection, limited healthcare infrastructure (shortage of healthcare facilities, trained healthcare professionals, and diagnostic equipment), financial constraints, possible stigmatization and fear associated with cancer, and low prioritization by governments due to multiple competing priorities, including infectious diseases (17, 24, 32, 33). Thus, governments and healthcare stakeholders must work together to achieve the global breast cancer initiative implementation framework, which includes assessing, enhancing, and scaling up services for early detection and screening (7). In addition, it is essential to implement comprehensive strategies: raising awareness about breast cancer, improving healthcare infrastructure, providing affordable or free screening services, covering screening related costs for transportation and opportunity cost loss while attending the screening, addressing cultural and social barriers, and increasing the number of trained healthcare professionals in breast cancer detection and management.

Women with a higher level of education are more likely to receive screening services, which is supported by previous studies (22, 24, 34–37). This could be because women with higher education levels have better health literacy with more access to information about breast cancer (risk factors and symptoms) and the necessity of regular examinations and early detection. In addition, these groups are expected to be more empowered and autonomous in decision-making; more confident in advocating for their health needs; and taking proactive actions to obtain screening services. This finding underlines the necessity of broadening access to breast cancer screening among women with no formal education. As supported by multicountry studies (24, 28, 37) and nationwide studies in India (38), Thailand (29), and Botswana (39), the likelihood of screening was higher among women living in the richest wealth quintile. This might be due to women in the richest wealth quintile have greater access to healthcare facilities, including screening and diagnostic services, as well as health information, education, and awareness programes (39).

The odds of breast cancer screening were found to increase among women at a more advanced age (35–49 years), which has been supported by studies conducted elsewhere (24, 39). This could be because as an increase in women age, their risk of developing breast cancer increases, and thus this age range is considered an important time for screening (40). Furthermore, older women are more aware of the importance of regular breast cancer screening due to greater exposure to public awareness campaigns, healthcare professionals, friends, and family, which encourages them to seek screening. Similarly, high screening practice was observed among multiparous women. This could be explained by multiparous women may have frequent contact with healthcare providers during pregnancy and postpartum periods, boosting awareness of their health and the significance of regular screenings. In tandem with a systematic review and meta-analysis (37), and studies conducted in Iran (30), the current study revealed that women in marital relationships (cohabited) had a higher likelihood of clinical breast cancer screening practice. This could be due to cohabiting women being more health-conscious and having more access to social and financial support from their partners, family, or friends, which can motivate and remind them to take care of their health, including regular breast cancer screenings. It is vital to highlight that while multiparous and 35–49-year-old, and cohabited women are more likely to have breast cancer screening, this does not imply that nulliparous, younger, and unmarried women are at a lower risk of getting breast cancer. Rather, all women, regardless of their reproductive history, age, or marital status should be offered optimal screening schedules and options to guarantee early detection and improved treatment outcomes.

Urban residents had a higher chance of being screened for breast cancer, which is in line with studies conducted elsewhere (28, 37, 41–43). This could be because women living in urban areas are more likely to have access to health facilities (44), transportation, financial support, and information via various media, which helps them realize the importance of early detection and motivates them to go for regular screenings (45, 46). Thus, concerted efforts are needed to remove these barriers for rural women by improving healthcare resources, raising awareness, assuring universal health coverage, and providing improved transportation alternatives.

Women who read newspapers were more likely to be screened, consistent with previous studies (28, 47, 48). This might be due to they often have access to a wide range of health-related information via articles, advertisements, or awareness campaigns related to breast cancer screening, which can increase their knowledge and practice of screening. In line with some studies (47, 49), women who visited health facilities within the last 12 months had a higher chance of being screened. This might be due to women receiving information, with encouragement from healthcare providers about the necessity of regular screening.

This study has strengths and drawbacks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the SSA region to assess the prevalence and multilevel determinants of breast cancer screening using a larger sample size and the most up-to-date data. Furthermore, due to the clustering effect of the DHS data, a multilevel analysis was conducted, and the results at the individual and community levels are crucial for devising contextual interventions by clinicians and relevant stakeholders to promote breast cancer screening and advocacy in SSA. However, this study had some limitations. First, because the responses were self-reported, there was a chance of social desirability and recall bias. Second, because the data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey, establishing a causal relationship between the outcome of interest and predictors may be difficult.

The rate of clinical breast cancer screening was low (14%). Higher screening was observed among women of advanced age (35–49 years), urban residents, had higher educational levels, the richest wealth quintile, multiparous, visited health facilities, and read newspapers. Strengthening awareness campaigns, improving healthcare infrastructure, health education, universal health coverage, and screening program access, with a focus on rural areas, women who lack formal education, and low socioeconomic status, are critical to increasing breast cancer screening rates and equity. Scale-up local and regional collaborations and the involvement of media agencies in the implementation of screening programs, advocacy, dissemination of information, and integration of screening programs with their routine care, such as perinatal care, can boost the screening. The existing health service delivery points also need to focus on integrating breast cancer screening services with routine care such as perinatal care.