Mapping relationships between individual and community-level factors in cervical cancer prevention among Hispanic women

Background: Hispanic women in Los Angeles are almost twice as likely as White or Black women and 54% more likely than Asian women to develop cervical cancer. Cervical cancer mortality rates are also higher for women with lower socioeconomic status. Since half of all Hispanic women in LA County are at the federal poverty level and have less than a high school education, they are at a elevated risk. Method: This project investigates the barriers to cervical cancer prevention among Hispanic women through a multilevel approach that incorporates community-level analyses. We identify relationships between individual and community-level factors that keep women from getting regular Pap tests or returning for treatment after abnormal Pap results. Using GIS, we map preliminary data from the medical chart reviews of 1,000 women who received services at the LAC+USC Women's Health Clinic during May through July of 2011. Results: The chart reviews revealed that 84% of the women are Hispanic and 70% prefer Spanish as their primary language. Furthermore, 40% come to the clinic because of specific symptoms and almost a third are referred to the study site from another clinic. In this presentation, we map cervical cancer related health outcomes, such as Pap test results and BMI, along with socio-demographic data to identify neighborhood patterns. Conclusion: This mapping guides our community fieldwork where we evaluate the presence of health resources and health storytelling in specific neighborhoods. Our multilevel approach can inform other health interventions that aim to promote both healthy individuals and healthy communities.