Utilizing the Health Belief Model to Design a Community-Based Program to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Rates Among 21 to 25-Year-Olds in the Omaha Metro Area

The 2021 Douglas County Community Health Needs Assessment found that cervical cancer screening rates have been on a downward trend since 2011. Previous studies on cervical cancer screening interventions have examined refugee populations, and current programs in Douglas County offer assistance to uninsured women, typically aged 40 and older. However, interventions have overlooked young women aged 21 to 25 in the Omaha metro area, who exhibit the lowest cervical cancer screening rates. We will use the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model as a framework to design an educational program for young women aged 21 to 25, guided by the theoretical underpinnings of the Health Belief Model, as well as to develop an implementation and evaluation plan for the program. We aim to create a plan that employs a three-pillar system, including education, patient navigation, and free screening tools. By utilizing data from community health needs assessments and applying findings from Health Belief Model surveys, we can tailor educational materials to fit this age group in Omaha.