Bridging Gaps in Women's Health Care: Examining Cervical Cancer Screening Rates for Underserved Populations in Miami [ID 1562]

INTRODUCTION: Many studies show cervical cancer (CC) screening rate disparities among racial minorities, ethnic minorities, and individuals with limited English proficiency. This is particularly concerning in Miami-Dade County (MDC), where over 70% of the population identify as Hispanic and speak a language other than English at home. This project provides insights into CC screening rates in the Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NHELP), a program providing preventative screenings for uninsured patients in MDC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study collected characteristics of 215 female patients who were eligible for CC screening for one fiscal year. Patients were categorized based on their CC screening status, and completion rates were assessed on patients’ age, ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic), race (White, Black, Asian), and preferred language (English, Spanish, Haitian Creole). RESULTS: Patients aged 40–49 had the highest completion rate (91.7%), whereas ages 60–69 had the lowest completion rate (81.6%). Completion rates based on ethnicity and race were very similar, showing only a 2% difference among groups. For the preferred language of patients, Spanish had the highest completion rate (90.1%), whereas English and Haitian Creole had similar completion rates, 85.4% and 84%. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Among various demographics, NHELP has demonstrated an impressive overall CC screening completion rate of 87.4%. This surpasses the national averages of Medicaid (55%), commercial HMO (74.2%), and commercial PPO (73%) in 2022. The results indicate that age and language preference are key factors influencing screening rates, which suggests the importance of culturally and linguistically tailored interventions to enhance screening uptake.