Objective: This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population-based breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening programs in Ankara, by analysing the five-year screening rates.Method: This descriptive study used routinely collected data from the Ankara Provincial Health Directorate and included HPV, mammography, and faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) results between 2018-2022.
The population at risk was obtained from official address-based population statistics. Annual screening rates per 100 individuals were calculated, and trend changes were evaluated using Joinpoint regression analysis. Results: A total of 261,895 HPV, 182,347 mammography, and 228,040 FOBT tests were evaluated.
Screening rates declined severely in 2020. HPV screening rates decreased from 4.8 per 100 in 2019 to 1.54 in 2020 (-67.9%). Mammography dropped from 4.9 to 1.5 per 100 (-69.4%), and FOBT from 5.9 to 1.7 per 100 (-71.2%). Across all screening programs, 2020 marked a statistically significant turning point (joinpoint) in the observed screening trends (p