Pap Smear and Mammogram Screening Rates in a Refugee and General OB/GYN Clinic: A Retrospective Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gynecology
• Preventative Medicine

Background:

• Resettled refugee women often face barriers to preventative cancer screenings.
• Existing research presents conflicting data on screening rates for this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare pap smear and mammogram screening rates between refugee and general OB/GYN clinic patients.
• To evaluate the impact of a refugee-specific clinic on cancer screening uptake.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 298 patients (149 refugee, 149 general) matched by age and visit date.
• Data collected from January 2017 to October 2018.
• Analysis of pap smear and mammogram screening rates.

Main Results:

• Pap smear screening rates were significantly higher in the refugee group (90.60%) compared to the general group (73.83%) (p < 0.009).
• Mammogram screening rates showed no significant difference between the groups (36.84% vs. 38.60%, p = 0.46).
• Holistic services in the refugee clinic were associated with increased pap smear screening.

Conclusions:

• A dedicated, holistic OB/GYN clinic model can effectively improve pap smear screening rates for resettled refugee women.
• Targeted care addressing unique needs enhances participation in preventative health services.
• Further research is needed to address disparities in mammogram screening rates.