Primary Submission Category: Health equity
Promoting a framework of shared accountability for reducing cervical cancer health disparities among Hispanic immigrant women in a county with a restrictive political environment and inequitable access to cancer treatment
Authors: Marcela Nava Hemali Patel James Earl Monica Canizares
Presenting Author: Marcela Nava*
Persisting health disparities in cervical cancer, a highly preventable and curable disease, are indicative of gaps along the continuum of cervical cancer care. Hispanic women have the highest cervical cancer incidence rates of any racial/ethnic group in the US and experience higher mortality rates than their white counterparts. A recent study funded by the American Cancer Society explored barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer survivorship among US Hispanic women in three Texas counties with different disparity profiles. We established an interdisciplinary health equity advocacy initiative to engage key stakeholders and community health advocates in the “high disparity” county identified in the study. This initiative advanced a framework of shared accountability for reducing cervical cancer health disparities among Hispanic immigrant women through meaningful community engagement that (1) expanded knowledge and awareness of barriers and facilitators for cervical cancer survivorship; (2) promoted critical reflection on the impact of politicized environments and structural barriers to health; (3) explored strategic opportunities to strengthen community capacity; and (4) advocated for partnerships that foster more supportive local environments for immigrants. In this article we review the specific objectives of our team-based health advocacy initiative, summarize key action steps, discuss lessons learned, and explore implications for practice and advocacy to reduce health disparities for immigrant women and their families.