Cervical Cancer Screening among Older Latina Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in a Network of Community Health Centers

Cervical cancer screening is effective; however, it is unclear whether older migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) Latinas have equitable screening utilization.

Retrospective observational study of electronic health record data to assess cervical cancer screening patterns (human papillomavirus [HPV]-only, Papanicolaou [Pap], or both) among 21,294 MSFW and non-MSFW Latinas aged 50-65 years with ≥1 face-to-face visit at 348 US community health centers (CHCs) in 17 states between 2012 and 2017. We conducted generalized estimating equation logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, health care use, and health status.

MSFW Latinas had higher rates of cervical cancer screening and HPV-only screening than non-MSFW Latinas (59% vs 49% and 49% vs 36%, respectively). MSWF Latinas, compared to non-MSFW Latinas, had higher odds of ever undergoing any type of cervical cancer screening (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.16-1.61), a HPV-only screening (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.11-1.44), and a Pap smear (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.02-1.47).

In CHCs, MSFW Latinas have higher odds of undergoing cervical cancer screening than non-MSFW Latinas. CHCs may play an important role in delivering cervical cancer screening among older MSFW Latinas. Further research is warranted to better understand the facilitators of care and differences in utilization between these populations.

Given the increasing rates of overdue cervical cancer screening in the United States, resource investment in CHCs remains critical to help sustain and expand the capacity to serve the growing and aging Latina population.