Evaluation of the Impact of Cervical Cancer and HPV Educational Awareness Program in Macon County, Alabama from 2018...

Recently, the cervical cancer incidence rate in Alabama (9.2/100,000) was significantly higher than that in the US (7.4/100,000). African American Alabamians had high cervical cancer screening rates showing a substantially higher incidence rate (9.8/100,000) than Caucasian (9.1/100,000). In the state, the mortality rate for African Americans (4.8/100,000) exceeded that for Caucasians (2.9/100,000). Our objective was to evaluate if the 2019 cervical cancer and HPV awareness programs had impacted selected communities by 2023. Follow-up surveys were utilized to collect data on the impact of the primary educational interventions in Macon County. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed using SAS software. Results: The short-term pre- and post-educational intervention in 2019 showed increased participants' knowledge of who knew what cervical cancer was; ever heard of HPV; and ever had an HPV test by margins of 9%, 23% and 4% respectively. In 2023, participants' knowledge of what cervical cancer was; ever heard of HPV; and ever had an HPV test increased by additional margins of 3.9%, 2.6% and 0.7% respectively. Participants in the 2019 study continued to share knowledge with other community members. In the 2019 study, significant differences were found only among participants who had ever heard of the Pap test before and after the educational intervention with p = 0.004 and 0.03 respectively, compared to participants who knew what cervical cancer was and who had ever heard of the HPV test. In the 2023 study, the results of heard of Pap test smear, a Pap test, and an HPV vaccine were significantly different with age (p = 0.02, 0.0001, and 0.02) respectively. Heard of HPV and heard of HPV vaccine were significantly different with income (p = 0.003 and 0.01) respectively., and heard of HPV, heard of HPV vaccine and had a Pap test were significantly different with education (p = 0.0008, 0.01 and 0.03) respectively. Our findings showed that the 2018 to 2019 study had stimulated participants to encourage others (neighbors, peers, etc.) and to participate in the 2022 to 2023 study and other related cervical cancer and HPV vaccination programs to increase their knowledge and awareness.