Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening Engagement and Early Intervention among Black African Women in the United Kingdom Screening barriers
Abstract
Background: Black African women in the UK have among the lowest breast cancer screening uptake rates of any ethnic group are disproportionately diagnosed with late-stage disease. Identifying barriers to screening engagement is essential for developing equitable public health interventions.
Methods: A rapid literature review was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCO, Scopus, and Google Scholar, supplemented by CrossRef and institutional repositories, covering 2015 to 2025. Inductive thematic synthesis was employed to identify barriers, evaluate theoretical frameworks, and appraise intervention strategies. PRISMA was adapted for the rapid review and the review was conducted by a single reviewer; the absence of dual screening is acknowledged as a limitation.
Results: Thirty-one studies and reports met inclusion criteria. Six intersecting barriers were identified: limited awareness, cultural and religious beliefs, healthcare distrust, fear of partner abandonment, cancer stigma, and socioeconomic inequalities. The Health Belief Model and Social Practice Theory were the most applicable frameworks. Available evidence suggests that culturally tailored education, community-based screening, peer support, and patient navigation may improve screening engagement; findings should be interpreted cautiously given the qualitative and observational nature of the evidence base.
Conclusions: The barriers facing Black African women are intersectional, requiring multi-level, community co-designed interventions. Comparable barriers are documented among Black African diaspora communities in Canada and the US. High-quality primary research specifically targeting Black African women as a distinct population is urgently needed.
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