A Community Health Campaign for Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention for African American Women

Education and prevention are important in reducing cervical cancer. Self-efficacious prevention methods include annual Pap tests and inoculations with HPV vaccine. Nevertheless, the cancer mortality rate (5.1/100,000) for African American women in Tennessee is disproportionately high when compared to that of white women. Early results of a pilot, cervical cancer awareness campaign in Nashville, Tennessee suggest African American women are knowledgeable of the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. However, a survey determined the majority of these women did not receive an annual Pap test. The 2006-2007 pilot campaign targeted African Americans to educate the public on HPV and cervical cancer. A needs assessment survey administered to 100 women (43 completed) revealed respondents wanted more information on HPV and cervical cancer, but 16 women reported they did not receive an annual Pap test. The pilot media campaign utilized Nashville college radio, urban commercial talk radio, a news/talk radio station, public access cable television, and print (editorial) media. Live, commercial talk radio generated the highest response rate with 20 telephone calls requesting information. Despite the multiple media approaches to information dissemination on HPV and cervical cancer, the initial campaign produced only modest interest. Knowledge about the link between HPV and cervical cancer appeared high, but efficacious health behavior (Pap test) was low. HPV vaccine is not a substitute for regular Pap screening. Results suggest a need for continued education and more quantitative/qualitative data to investigate the disassociation between knowledge, awareness, information-seeking and prevention behaviors in this population.