Elimination of cervical cancer in U.S. Hispanic populations: Puerto Rico as a case study

Ana Patricia Ortiz, Marievelisse Soto-Salgado, William A. Calo, Pamela Hull, María E. Fernández, Vivian Colon-López, Guillermo Tortolero-Luna

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a major burden for women around the world. In 2018, the World Health Organization called for the elimination of cervical cancer worldwide (<4 cases per 100,000 women-years), within the 21st century. In the U.S., despite great progress toward this goal, existing disparities among racial/ethnic groups in cervical cancer raise concerns about whether elimination can be achieved for all women. We describe: 1) disparities in cervical cancer among Hispanics in the U.S. and factors that contribute to their increased risk, 2) prevention and control efforts to increase equity in the elimination of cervical cancer in this population, and 3) cervical cancer control efforts in Puerto Rico (PR), a U.S. territory, as a case study for cervical cancer elimination among a minority and underserved Hispanic population. Hispanics have the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer among all racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Despite being more likely to complete HPV vaccination series, lower cervical cancer screening and access to treatment may lead to a higher cervical cancer mortality in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic White women. These disparities are influenced by multiple individual-, sociocultural-, and system-level factors. To achieve the goal of cervical cancer elimination in the U.S., systematic elimination plans that consider the needs of Hispanic populations should be included within the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans of each state. Because PR has implemented coordinated efforts for the prevention and control of cervical cancer, it represents a notable case study for examining strategies that can lead to cervical cancer elimination among Hispanics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106336
JournalPreventive Medicine
Volume144
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (Awards Grants Numbers #CA096297-16 and P30CA177558) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The content is solely the responsability of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. We acknowledge the contribution of Jeslie Ramos, MS in the revision of the manuscript.

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (Awards Grants Numbers # CA096297-16 and P30CA177558 ) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) . The content is solely the responsability of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

  • Cancer disparities
  • Cancer screening
  • Cervical cancer
  • HPV vaccination
  • Hispanic/Latina women
  • Puerto Rico

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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