Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign for Marginalized Communities in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur District

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women in India, especially within marginalized tribal populations. In Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, limited healthcare access, low literacy, and cultural stigma exacerbate the disease burden. Despite being preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening, awareness and uptake of these measures remain critically low. Methods and Materials: A community-based cervical cancer awareness campaign was designed and implemented in Jagdalpur using a mixed-methods approach. The campaign combined educational workshops, mobile screening units, and HPV vaccination drives. Culturally tailored interventions such as folk media, tribal leader engagement, and local language materials were employed. Data collection included pre- and post-campaign surveys, focus group discussions, and service uptake monitoring to assess the impact. Results: The campaign engaged over 5,000 participants, with notable increases in awareness and behavioral changes. Awareness of cervical cancer rose from 28% to 75%, while knowledge of HPV vaccination and Pap smears increased by 51% and 53%, respectively. More than 1,200 women underwent Pap smears and 520 adolescent girls received the HPV vaccine. The campaign demonstrated that community involvement and cultural sensitivity significantly improve health engagement and service utilization. Conclusion: The Jagdalpur cervical cancer awareness initiative highlights the effectiveness of community-driven, culturally appropriate strategies in reducing health disparities. Future efforts should focus on policy integration, infrastructure support, and sustained community health education to ensure long-term impact and replicability in similar underserved settings.