Women's Preventive Services Utilization in Illinois in the Aftermath of the ACA and the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2024;35(2):672-691.

Abstract

This study explores the association between health system changes over the last decade and women's preventive care utilization in Illinois. A cross-sectional analysis using Illinois Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2012-2020 among women aged 21-75 (n=21,258) examined well-woman visit (WWV) receipt and breast and cervical cancer screening overall and over several time periods. There was an increase in the prevalence of receiving a WWV for Illinois women overall from 2012-2020. However, the overall adjusted prevalence difference was only significant for the 2020 versus 2015-2019 comparison and not for 2015-2019 versus 2012-2014. The COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with a decrease in the prevalence of mammogram use but was manifest for cervical cancer screening, particularly for Black women. Finally, those reporting having a WWV in the past year had a significantly higher prevalence of being up to date with screening compared with those not reporting a WWV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Early Detection of Cancer / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illinois / epidemiology
  • Mammography / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act*
  • Preventive Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Young Adult