This report summarises data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) on the use of prevention and screening services. The data cover services provided by general practitioners (e.g., blood pressure and skin checks), participation in the national cancer screening programs (for breast, bowel and cervical), bone density screening, and vaccinations.

The data are from the most recent surveys when the women were aged 24-30 years (cohort born in 1989-95), 43-49 years (cohort born in 1973-78) and 71-76 years (cohort born in 1946-51). Linked data from the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) are also included.

The results are presented by area of residence (classified by the Modified Monash Model), level of education, women’s ability to manage on their available income, and language spoken at home (English, other). The main findings include:

• Skin checks were more common for older women than younger women and, among the youngest women, were more common for those living in remote areas compared to metropolitan areas, regional centres and towns.
• Skin checks were less common for women who did not speak English at home (all ages).
• Blood sugar tests were more common for women who did not speak English at home.
• Although breast examination by a health care professional or breast self-examination are not currently recommended, these practices were reported by 40-50% of women in the cohorts aged 43-49 or 71-76 (both groups are outside the BreastScreen Australia target age range (50- 74), although those over 40 are eligible for free screening).
• Mammography increased with women’s ability to manage on their income, and was higher in rural than metropolitan areas, especially for those in their 40’s.
• Participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) for the oldest cohort increased with level of education.
• Participation in cervical screening was over 80% in all cohorts (after taking account of the higher proportion of women in the oldest cohort who had had a hysterectomy). Screening uptake increased with level of education and ability to manage on income.
• Bone density screening in the 1946-51 cohort was higher in metropolitan and other more urban areas than in remote regions.
• Influenza, pneumonia, and herpes zoster vaccinations declined with rurality. Covid vaccination levels, including numbers of doses, were high (98%) among women born 1946-51.
• Levels of vaccination were lower among women who did not speak English at home, compared with those who did, for all vaccines and cohorts.