Cervical Cancer Screening Among Minorities in the United States

Consistent use of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test is the main reason there is a decreased incidence of cervical cancer and associated mortality rates but many women are still not adequately screened. Minority women have lower screening rates and higher incidence and mortality rates than white women. Understanding minority groups' knowledge of cervical cancer and perceived barriers to screening is critical when designing interventions to increase screening rates among minority women. In this article we highlight the beliefs and barriers of African American, Hispanic, and Asian American women as well as potential interventions that can improve cervical cancer screening in these minority groups.