CERVICAL cancer screening disparities persist for African-immigrant women in the United States, highlighting barriers and care-gaps.
Barriers Driving Disparities in Prevention
A systematic review spanning studies published from 2010–2024 found consistent, multi-level barriers shaping cervical cancer prevention for African immigrant women living in the United States. Across 17 included studies, common obstacles to cervical cancer screening included language discordance, lack of insurance coverage, limited awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and prevention, cultural stigma, and unfamiliarity with navigating the U.S. healthcare system. While the evidence base covered several research designs, most studies were observational or qualitative, with only one randomized controlled trial identified.
The authors also underscored that African immigrant women are often treated as a single, uniform group in the literature. Only 11 of the 17 studies disaggregated participants by country of origin or related subgroup characteristics. This limitation matters clinically and operationally because screening behaviors and access barriers may differ by language proficiency, length of U.S. residence, and other intersecting social factors.
Cervical Cancer Screening Disparities and Data Gaps
Using intersectionality and stress process frameworks, the review highlighted how structural determinants can influence preventive care behaviors and shape disparities over time. The authors pointed to a need for standardized, disaggregated data collection practices that better reflect African immigrant identity, enabling clearer identification of which subgroups experience the greatest gaps in cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination.
Promising Strategies to Improve Uptake
Despite persistent barriers, several approaches showed promise. Interventions such as HPV self-sampling and culturally tailored education were associated with improved screening uptake in some studies, suggesting that prevention strategies aligned to community context and patient preference may help narrow cervical cancer screening disparities. The authors concluded that theory-driven research and culturally responsive interventions are needed to reduce cervical cancer prevention inequities among African immigrant women in the United States.
Reference: Suleman DB et al. Cervical cancer research disparities among African immigrant women in the United States: A systematic review. Palliat Support Care. 2026;24:e68. doi:10.1017/S1478951526101849.
