Persistent racial disparities in cervical cancer screening with Pap test

• Published in: Preventive medicine reports 2021-12, Vol.24, p.101652-101652, Article 101652
• Main Authors: McDaniel, Cassidi C., Hallam, Hayleigh H., Cadwallader, Tiffany, Lee, Hee Yun, Chou, Chiahung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cervical cancer screening; Health disparities; Pap test; Racial disparities; Short Communication; Women’s health
• ISSN: 2211-3355; 2211-3355
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101652

Given the racial disparities in cervical cancer screening, incidence, and mortality, the purpose of this study was to estimate cervical cancer screening behaviors through self-reported Pap testing among racial groups in the U.S. This cross-sectional study utilized the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to compare Pap testing behaviors among women of different racial groups. The BRFSS data from 2014, 2016, and 2018 were chosen because these were the most recent years of data capturing cervical cancer screening information. The primary outcome was self-reported Pap testing behavior (yes/no). Racial groups were analyzed with the original categorical responses for the race/ethnicity variable to investigate Pap testing behaviors across all racial groups. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and a multivariable binomial logistic regression model to assess differences of Pap testing by race after adjusting for covariates. Among the 538,218 females included, 88.81% (95% CI: 88.60–89.03) reported receiving a Pap test. Pap testing behaviors differed significantly between racial groups in 2014, 2016, and 2018 (p