A Comparative Study of Health Disparities in Cervical Cancer Mortality Rates Through Time Between Black and Caucasian Women in Alabama and the US.

Ehsan Abdalla,Berhanu Tameru,Souleymane Fall,Roberta Troy,David Nganwa,Tsegaye Habtemariam

doi:10.20849/ijsn.v6i1.864

Ehsan Abdalla, Berhanu Tameru + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.20849/ijsn.v6i1.864

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Abstract

Background:The main purpose of this study was to assess changes in cervical cancer mortality rates through time between Black and Caucasian women residing in Alabama and the US.Methods:Alabama cervical cancer mortality rates (MR), percentage differences, percentage changes and annual percentage changes for trends were compared with the US baseline and target rates. The US Baseline data and target objectives of utilization of cervical cancer screening and MR were obtained from Healthy People 2020. The cervical cancer behavioral risk factors and utilization of screening tests data were obtained from CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The cervical cancer MR data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). The analysis was done using SEER*Stat and Linear Trendlines analysis.Results:Although Blacks in Alabama had higher cervical cancer MR through times, a decreasing trend was noted for both races. However, in Alabama, there is no significant change in Blacks aged 65 years and older in cervical cancer MR, despite a high screening rate compared to Whites. In contrast, between 2002 and 2012, Whites in Alabama and the US made a significant progress toward the Healthy People 2020 goal.Conclusions:In Alabama, there exists cervical cancer MR disparity in Blacks despite the higher rates of screening for cervical cancer as would otherwise be expected. The state has not yet achieved the Healthy People 2020 goal. Public health officials should monitor progress toward reduction and/or elimination of these disparities by focusing in a follow up of screening.

Highlights

Worldwide, cervical cancer (CerCancer) is the third most common cancer among women and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths, accounting for nearly 300,000 deaths annually
Between 2000 and 2010, in comparison and controlling for age, in Alabama cervical cancer screening percentages of Blacks were on average 87.65% always higher than those of Whites, and slightly below the national average of 87.85% which was higher in Blacks
Our study indicated that surgical treatment for Black patients who were diagnosed with cervical cancer in rural BBC was significantly less common amongst Black than White patients

Summary

Introduction

Cervical cancer (CerCancer) is the third most common cancer among women and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths, accounting for nearly 300,000 deaths annually. CerCancer, caused by particular types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is a preventable cancer because of its long evolving period where it can be detected early by screening process (Tabatabai MA, Kengwoung-Keumo J-J, Eby WM, Bae S, & Guemmegne JT, 2014) It is a highly treatable disease because if detected early by the Papanicolaou test (Pap test), a simple procedure in which a small sample of cells is collected from the cervix and examined and, if it is at a localized stage, the 5-year survival rate for invasive cervical cancer is 91% (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). Public health officials should monitor progress toward reduction and/or elimination of these disparities by focusing in a follow up of screening

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