Persistent racial disparities in cervical cancer screening with Pap test

Abstract

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 < 0.001 for all years). Compared to White women, Asians (OR: 0.169, 95% CI: 0.149–0.191), Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders (OR: 0.339, 95% CI: 0.249–0.462), American Indians or Alaskan Natives (OR: 0.664, 95% CI: 0.532–0.829), Hispanics (OR: 0.726, 95% CI: 0.670–0.786), and other non-Hispanic races (OR: 0.439, 95% CI: 0.323–0.598) were significantly less likely to receive Pap test. Racial disparities in cervical cancer screening with Pap tests exist for Asians, Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, and other non-Hispanics.

Keywords

• Cervical cancer screening
• Pap test
• Racial disparities
• Health disparities
• Women’s health