Online Program

282654
Comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control: Progress and remaining challenges in statewide efforts in South Carolina


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Heather M. Brandt, PhD, CHES, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior & Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina-Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Jennifer Young Pierce, MD, MPH, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology Division, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Saundra H. Glover, PhD, MBA, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Dolores Scott, MEd, Woman's Baptist Education and Missionary Convention, State Baptist Young Woman's Auxiliary, State Park, SC
Deloris Williams, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD, Carolina Community Based Health Supports Networks, Columbia, SC
Sharon Bond, PhD, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Purpose: Cervical cancer (CxCa) incidence and mortality in South Carolina (SC) have decreased from 3rd and 8th, respectively, to 14th in both as a result of statewide efforts to focus on CxCa prevention and control as a priority since virtually all cases are preventable through screening, follow-up care/early intervention, and/or HPV vaccination.

Methods: A systematic examination of CxCa prevention and control activities and outcomes resulted in identification of a need to convene stakeholders through statewide meetings and conferences in SC (A Call to Action; Moving to Action). Working with the faith-based and larger community, survivors, organizations, professionals, and other stakeholders, these statewide initiatives resulted in localized action plans. Local plans have been supplemented with billboards, small media campaigns, and educational programs. Recent declines in CxCa screening and HPV vaccination has raised concerns and underscored the need for further action. Cervical Cancer-Free South Carolina, part of Cervical Cancer-Free America, is in initial stages of reconvening stakeholders to promote action.

Results: The active involvement of diverse partners has proven essential in the past and contributed to decreases in CxCa incidence and mortality. This same approach will be used to address emergent declines and support current HPV vaccine policy under consideration in SC.

Conclusions: Recognizing a decline in CxCa prevention and control behaviors in SC, reconvening stakeholders to ensure incidence and mortality do not increase is a priority. The Cervical Cancer-Free South Carolina movement represents an opportunity to develop and implement statewide strategies to address declines in behaviors connected to incidence and mortality.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the methods used to convene and engage a diverse group of stakeholders in a state with high cervical cancer incidence and mortality to address cervical cancer; Discuss the importance of ongoing monitoring of behaviors to inform action steps to address cervical cancer; and Explain how a comprehensive approach to cervical cancer prevention and control is important to address proximal and distal disease outcomes.

Keyword(s): Cervical Cancer, Public Health Movements

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a social and behavioral scientist who has expertise in community-engaged research approaches to address cancer disparities. I have substantial intervention development, implementation, and evaluation experience in the area of cervical cancer prevention and control. I have been PI, co-PI, co-I, and project leader of several federally funded research grants and have publications in relevant topic areas.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.