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Patterns and Correlates of Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Black Immigrant and African American Women in the USA: the Role of Ethnicity and Culture

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Abstract

Cervical cancer prevention disparities between Black and White women have been researched extensively, but less is known about disparities among Black subpopulations, despite increased risk, distinct cultures, and rapidly increasing numbers of Black immigrant women to the USA. A 74-item survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional descriptive study. Independent sample t tests, logistic multiple regressions, and chi-square tests were used to carry out all comparative analyses. The survey was administered via Psychdata from January 2020 to February 2020. The final sample included 450 eligible participants (African American women [AAW] = 335; Black immigrant women [BIW] from either West, Central, East Africa, or the Caribbean = 115). Compared to AAW, BIW demonstrated much lower knowledge of cervical cancer, AAW were more likely to visit a gynecologist, and to have had a well-woman exam every 3 years or less. A greater percentage of BIW reported not getting Pap smear test because they had no symptoms or because they feared bad results while AAW reported not receiving a Pap smear because it was not convenient, they did not trust any doctor/gynecologist, and lacked access to a gynecologist. Doctor and family advising had a much larger effect on cervical screening among BIW compared to AAW. This study provides evidence of crucial differences in CC knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors among BIW and AAW. Funding agencies, program planners and evaluators, and health policymakers are encouraged to require disaggregation of Black women in healthcare research to tease out specific ways interventions can be most effective.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Wura Jacobs, Natalie Dinkle, Erin Harris, and Tamara Starling for editing the questionnaire and the Texas Woman’s University Center for Research Design and Analysis for helping with the statistical analysis.

Funding

This study was supported by small grant research funds from Texas Woman’s University. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the TWU Institutional Review Board [Protocol Number: IRB-FY2020-61].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology, Texas Woman’s University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, TX, 76204, USA

    Ann Oyare Amuta-Jimenez

  2. Department of Psychology and Philosophy, Texas Woman’s University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, TX, 76204, USA

    Gabrielle P. A. Smith

  3. Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, 500 W. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA

    Kyrah K. Brown

Authors
  1. Ann Oyare Amuta-Jimenez
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  2. Gabrielle P. A. Smith
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  3. Kyrah K. Brown
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Contributions

Dr. Ann Amuta-Jimenez served as the principal investigator of the study and was responsible for study conceptualization and design, data collection, data analysis and data analysis oversight, and manuscript development and writing. Dr. Gabrielle P.A. Smith served as the co-principal investigator of the study and contributed to study design, data collection, interpretation of findings, and manuscript development and writing. Dr. Kyrah K. Brown contributed to manuscript writing and editing.

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Correspondence to Ann Oyare Amuta-Jimenez.

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Amuta-Jimenez, A.O., Smith, G.P.A. & Brown, K.K. Patterns and Correlates of Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Black Immigrant and African American Women in the USA: the Role of Ethnicity and Culture. J Canc Educ 37, 798–805 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01884-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01884-1

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