0
0
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has highlighted significant rural-urban disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality among women in the United States. The research, conducted by Trisha L. Amboree, Ph.D., M.P.H., and colleagues from the Medical University of South Carolina, utilized data from the National Program of Cancer Registries and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results databases to analyze trends in cervical cancer cases.
The study found that from 2012 to 2019, cervical cancer incidence in rural counties increased by 0.85% per year after previously declining from 2001 to 2012. In contrast, incidence in urban counties plateaued following a decline between 2001 and 2013. This divergence widened the gap in incidence rates between rural and urban women, with the rate ratio rising from 1.16 in 2013 to 1.25 in 2019.
Further analysis revealed that incidence rates among rural white women increased by 1.05% annually from 2012 to 2019, whereas rates declined among rural Hispanic women, as well as among urban white and Black women. Additionally, from 2015 to 2019, mortality rates in rural areas were found to be 1.42 times higher than in urban counties, with the trend persisting across racial groups.
The researchers emphasized that lower uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in rural areas could contribute to widening these disparities in the future. Addressing barriers to HPV vaccination, improving access to cervical cancer screenings, and expanding healthcare infrastructure in rural communities may help mitigate these health inequities.
Two authors of the study disclosed financial ties to Value Analytics Lab and/or Merck, a pharmaceutical company involved in HPV vaccine development.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes findings from a published study and does not constitute medical advice. For personal health concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.
