Cervical Cancer in Hispanic/Latino Women

Cervical cancer is largely preventable if detected early. Minority populations and people of low socioeconomic status are affected disproportionately by cervical cancer. When compared to non-Hispanic white women, Hispanic/Latino women residing in the United States have twice the incidence rate of and 1.4 times the mortality from cervical cancer. Contributing factors include lack of awareness about cancer prevention and available services; lack of access to quality health care; feelings of embarrassment, fear, and fatalism; and limited linguistically and ethnically sensitive information about cervical cancer prevention and detection. Education and screening programs targeted at this population have the potential to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer, and nurses play an important role in educating Hispanic/Latino women about cervical cancer.