Gender gap in cancer prevention and mortality. A multidimensional analysis.

BACKGROUND: During 2015 in Poland, male-to-female ratio in age-adjusted cancer mortality rate amounted to 1.83, which is close to that observed in 1990 (1.94) and considerably more than in 1965 (1.38).

DATA AND METHODS: Nearest-neighbor matching and latent class model were estimated to assess gender gap in cancer prevention in 2006 and 2014. The analysis is based on nationally representative data from a two-wave survey carried out on a stratified random sample of n = 7991 + 8079 adults.

RESULTS: Even when controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, health status, and basic knowledge of cancer, three behavioral health characteristics are dramatically lower in men: uptake of preventive health care (ATE of -0.106), perceived caring for own health (-0.070), and fruit and vegetable intake (-0.034). Between 2006 and 2014 the gender gap in uptake of preventive health care and perceived caring for own health had increased, particularly in individuals aged over 40. The adjusted difference in leisure-time physical activity between men and women is near the significance threshold in individuals aged over 40.

CONCLUSION: The gender differences are higher for the behavioral component of cancer prevention than cognitive domains. Without modifying behavioral risk factors, gender gap in cancer mortality is not expected to close.