Mariona Pons-Vigués

Publications (10)19.75 Total impact

• Article: Country of origin and prevention of breast cancer: Beliefs, knowledge and barriers.

  Mariona Pons-Vigués, Rosa Puigpinós-Riera, Dolors Rodríguez, M José Fernández de Sanmamed, M Isabel Pasarín, Glòria Pérez, Carme Borrell, Montserrat Casamitjana, Josep Benet
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  ABSTRACT: This study describes the concept of prevention and identifies the knowledge, perceived benefits and barriers, as well as the practices of early detection of breast cancer among women from different cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic levels. A socioconstructivist qualitative study was conducted in Barcelona. The study population consisted of women who were either native (Spanish) or immigrants from low income countries, aged 40 to 69 years. Narrations of the 68 informants were subjected to sociological discourse analysis. Place and culture of origin, social class and the migratory process can either facilitate or constitute barriers to breast cancer prevention.
  Health & Place 09/2012; 18(6):1270-1281. · 2.67 Impact Factor
• Article: Evolution of inequalities in breast and cervical cancer screening in Barcelona: population surveys 1992, 2001, and 2006.

  Rosa Puigpinós-Riera, Gemma Serral, Mariona Pons-Vigués, Laia Palència, Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Carme Borrell
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  ABSTRACT: To describe and compare breast and cervical cancer screening among women in Barcelona in 1992, 2001, and 2006 by social class, age, and screening approach. This was a study of trends based on analysis of Barcelona health interview surveys for the years 1992 (n=5,003), 2001 (n=10,030), and 2006 (n=6,050). Dependent variables were having regular mammographies (at least every 2 years) and having regular cytologic testing (at least every 3 years). Independent variables were age, social class, and survey year. A descriptive analysis was carried out. To compare prevalence in terms of social class and the years studied, we calculated prevalence differences (PD) and prevalence ratios (PR) by fitting robust Poisson regression models. In 1992, women aged 40?49 had more regular mammographies than those aged 50?69, with social class inequalities in both age groups. Having cervical cancer screening was more common than having breast cancer screening, with prevalence varying from 46.4% in the low social classes to 59.2% in the high classes. In 2001, breast cancer screening had risen, particularly in women aged 50?69, a tendency that had stabilized by 2006. Inequalities diminished over the period, more markedly in women aged 50?69; PRs of 1.22 and 1.58, respectively, for high and middle social classes with respect to the lowest class in 1992 fell to PRs of 1.07 and 1.08, respectively, in 2006. In the case of cervical cancer screening, inequalities also diminished but not to the same extent. Preventive screening for breast and cervical cancer has increased, and the population screening program for breast cancer among women aged 50?69 years appears to contribute more than opportunistic screening for cervical cancer in reducing social class inequalities.
  Journal of Women s Health 07/2011; 20(11):1721-7. · 1.57 Impact Factor
• Article: Knowledge, attitude and perceptions of breast cancer screening among native and immigrant women in Barcelona, Spain.

  Mariona Pons-Vigués, Rosa Puigpinós-Riera, Gemma Serral, M Isabel Pasarín, Dolors Rodríguez, Glòria Pérez, Josep Benet, Montserrat Casamitjana, Carme Borrell
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  ABSTRACT: Inequalities between immigrant and native populations in terms of access and use of health services have been described. The objective is to compare knowledge, attitudes, vulnerabilities, benefits and barriers related to breast cancer (BC) and screening mammography among women from different countries resident in Barcelona. A cross-sectional survey carried out in Barcelona in 2009. The study population consisted of female residents in Barcelona between 45 and 69 years of age; participants were Spanish nationals or immigrants from low-income countries. 960 participants were asked 72 questions, mainly with Likert responses. The dependent variables were five quantitative scales: (1) knowledge of BC and early detection, (2) attitude towards health and BC, (3) vulnerability to BC, (4) barriers to mammography, (5) benefits of mammography. The independent variables were country of origin, social class, setting, cohabitation, age, mammography use, length of residence and fluency of the language. Analyses compared scale scores stratified by the independent variables. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to determine the relationship between the scales and the independent variables. We observed inequalities according to country of origin on all scales after adjustment for independent variables. Chinese women presented the greatest differences with respect to native women, followed by Maghrebi and Filipino women. Inequalities exist on the vulnerability and barriers scales according to social class and urban/rural setting, and on the attitude scale according to social class. Country of origin, social class and urban/rural setting are key contributors to inequality in these scales.
  Psycho-Oncology 03/2011; 21(6):618-29. · 3.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Preventive control of breast and cervical cancer in immigrant and native women in Spain: the role of country of origin and social class.

  Mariona Pons-Vigués, Rosa Puigpinós-Riera, Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Gemma Serral, Laia Palència, Carme Borrell
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  ABSTRACT: The study describes the periodic use of cervical and breast cancer screening by women residing in Spain, according to their country of origin, and analyzes whether the observed associations are modified by social class. A cross-sectional design was used, with the study population consisting of women residing in Spain in 2006, ages 25-65 years (N = 10,093) and 40-69 years (N = 6674) in the cervical and breast cancer screening groups, respectively. The information source was Spain's National Health Survey of 2006. The dependent variables were: undergoing periodic cervical cancer screening (every 5 years or less) and breast cancer screening (every 2 years or less). The independent variables were: country of origin, social class, health care coverage, cohabitation, and age. A descriptive analysis was carried out, and robust Poisson regression models were fitted. Women from low-income countries underwent fewer periodic screening exams for cervical cancer and breast cancer. Independent of country of origin, women from the manual classes underwent fewer screening exams than those from the non-manual classes. In the 50-69 years age group, it was mainly women from the manual classes from low-income countries who underwent fewer periodic mammograms. Having only public health care coverage and not cohabiting with a partner were also associated with lower prevalences of use.
  International Journal of Health Services 01/2011; 41(3):483-99. · 1.21 Impact Factor
• Article: [Satisfaction and expectations of the women participants and not participants in the breast cancer screening programme in Barcelona after 10 years of operation].

  Gemma Serral Cano, Rosa Puigpinós I Riera, Iolanda Robles Garrido, Mariona Pons-Vigués, Carme Borrell
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  ABSTRACT: In order to improve the strategies of communication and to increase the participation in the screening program, one considers to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of participants and nonparticipants of the Breast Cancer Screening Program (BCSP) in Barcelona (2007), to analyse the degree of satisfaction and knowledge with the programme, and to know the expectations of nonparticipants with respect to the programme. Cross-sectional study in a sample of 600 women between 50 and 69 years of age registered in Barcelona. A telephone interview was carried out using a questionnaire composed of 35 questions, grouped in: knowledge of the disease and the programme, satisfaction with the programme, expectations (characteristics which might increase participation) and sociodemographic characteristics. The association between knowledge and satisfaction with the sociodemographic characteristics was analysed by means of bivariate and multivariate analysis (robust poisson models). A descriptive analysis of the expectations of nonparticipants was carried out. Among the 244 nonparticipants interviewed, 160 (65,6%) had middle or superior studies, and 163 (66,8%) were of a privileged social class. Of 356 women that indicated to be participants in the PDPCM 340 (95,5 %) were satisfied with the PDPCM in global. The degree of satisfaction and knowledge with the programme is very high. The expectations indicated suggest that women receive contradictory messages with regard to periodicity (annual respect biannual) and age range (40-69 respect 50-69).
  Revista Española de Salud Pública 12/2010; 84(6):717-29. · 0.71 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Rosa Puigpinós

  Article: Socio-economic inequalities in breast and cervical cancer screening practices in Europe: influence of the type of screening program.

  Laia Palència, Albert Espelt, Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Rosa Puigpinós, Mariona Pons-Vigués, M Isabel Pasarín, Teresa Spadea, Anton E Kunst, Carme Borrell
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to describe inequalities in the use of breast and cervical cancer screening services according to educational level in European countries in 2002, and to determine the influence of the type of screening program on the extent of inequality. A cross-sectional study was performed using individual-level data from the WHO World Health Survey (2002) and data regarding the implementation of cancer screening programmes. The study population consisted of women from 22 European countries, aged 25-69 years for cervical cancer screening (n =11 770) and 50-69 years for breast cancer screening (n = 4784). Dependent variables were having had a PAP smear and having had a mammography during the previous 3 years. The main independent variables were socio-economic position (SEP) and the type of screening program in the country. For each country the prevalence of screening was calculated, overall and for each level of education, and indices of relative (RII) and absolute (SII) inequality were computed by educational level. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted. SEP inequalities in screening were found in countries with opportunistic screening [comparing highest with lowest educational level: RII = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.48 for cervical cancer; and RII = 3.11, 95% CI 1.78-5.42 for breast cancer] but not in countries with nationwide population-based programmes. Inequalities were also observed in countries with regional screening programs (RII = 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.65 for cervical cancer; and RII = 1.58, 95% CI 1.26-1.98 for breast cancer). Inequalities in the use of cancer screening according to SEP are higher in countries without population-based cancer screening programmes. These results highlight the potential benefits of population-based screening programmes.
  International Journal of Epidemiology 02/2010; 39(3):757-65. · 6.41 Impact Factor
• Article: [Strategies to recruit immigrant women to participate in qualitative research].

  Mariona Pons-Vigués, Rosa Puigpinós, Dolors Rodríguez, M José Fernández de Sanmamed
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  ABSTRACT: The present article aims to describe the process of selecting and recruiting women from distinct sociocultural backgrounds who participated in a qualitative research project and to outline the difficulties encountered according to the women's origin. Research was carried out in Barcelona from 2007 to 2008 to identify how culture influences participation in a breast cancer early detection program. The study population consisted of native women and immigrant women from developing countries aged 40 to 69 years old resident in Barcelona. Participants were recruited through multiple strategies: key informants, cultural mediators, healthcare professionals, associations, religious institutions, the media, posters, adult education and language schools, and the population census. The recruitment process cannot be confined to a single source and associations, religion institutions and cultural mediators are the most effective resources.
  Gaceta Sanitaria 10/2009; 23 Suppl 1:90-2. · 1.33 Impact Factor
• Article: Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in cancer mortality in Barcelona: 1992–2003

  Rosa Puigpinós, Carme Borrell, José Antunes, Enric Azlor, Pasarín M Isabel, Gemma Serral, Mariona Pons-Vigués, Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Esteve Fernández
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract Background The objective of this study was to assess trends in cancer mortality by educational level in Barcelona from 1992 to 2003. Methods The study population comprised Barcelona inhabitants aged 20 years or older. Data on cancer deaths were supplied by the system of information on mortality. Educational level was obtained from the municipal census. Age-standardized rates by educational level were calculated. We also fitted Poisson regression models to estimate the relative index of inequality (RII) and the Slope Index of Inequalities (SII). All were calculated for each sex and period (1992–1994, 1995–1997, 1998–2000, and 2001–2003). Results Cancer mortality was higher in men and women with lower educational level throughout the study period. Less-schooled men had higher mortality by stomach, mouth and pharynx, oesophagus, larynx and lung cancer. In women, there were educational inequalities for cervix uteri, liver and colon cancer. Inequalities of overall and specific types of cancer mortality remained stable in Barcelona; although a slight reduction was observed for some cancers. Conclusion This study has identified those cancer types presenting the greatest inequalities between men and women in recent years and shown that in Barcelona there is a stable trend in inequalities in the burden of cancer.
  BMC Public Health. 01/2009;
• Article: Breast cancer mortality in Barcelona following implementation of a city breast cancer-screening program.

  Mariona Pons-Vigués, Rosa Puigpinós, Gemma Cano-Serral, Marc Marí-Dell'Olmo, Carme Borrell
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  ABSTRACT: To assess the impact that the Barcelona city breast cancer-screening program has had in the decline of mortality due to breast cancer among women aged 50-74 years, in the city of Barcelona. A quasi-experimental study based on breast cancer deaths among women aged between 50 and 74 years residing in Barcelona between 1984 and 2004. The variables used were: age, year, and Primary Health Care District (ABS) grouped into four zones according to the year of implementation of the screening program. We carried out a descriptive analysis of mortality by year and age and fitted Poisson models to calculate the relative risk of dying prior to the existence of the program, after its implementation, and as a function of its degree of implementation. The models are adjusted for ABS socioeconomic level. Between 1984 and 2004, 3733 women aged between 50 and 74 years died of breast cancer. The mortality rate fluctuated, reaching its highest level in 1991, having declined since. Prior to implementation of the program, mortality was falling by 1% annually (RR=0.99 95 CI%=0.98-0.99), and since then by 5% (RR=0.95 95 CI%=0.92-0.99). There are no significant differences in mortality reduction between zones where the program was implemented earlier and those where it came in later, even though mortality in the final phase of complete implementation is significantly lower by 17%, with respect to the period prior to its introduction. The results show a reduction in mortality due to breast cancer over the entire period studied, the decline being more marked after the program was introduced. Opportunistic screening and the greater efficacy of the treatment of initial cancers have both influenced the findings. A longer follow up time will be needed in order to obtain more conclusive results.
  Cancer Detection and Prevention 01/2008; 32(2):162-7. · 2.52 Impact Factor
• Article: Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in cancer mortality in Barcelona: 1992–2003

  Rosa Puigpinós, Carme Borrell, José Leopoldo Ferreira Antunes, Enric Azlor, M Isabel Pasarín, Gemma Serral, Mariona Pons-Vigués, Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Esteve Fernández