Cervical cancer screening: meeting the needs of minority ethnic women

Understanding of the uptake of cervical screening among women from minority ethnic groups, and how acceptable they find the process, still requires some considerable progress. This paper attempts to review the material available, identify the issues and discuss ways in which progress might be made in future. Mortality from cervical cancer is higher among women born in the Caribbean Commonwealth than the standardised rate for women living in England and Wales. By contrast, mortality among women born in the Indian subcontinent and African Commonwealth is comparatively lower. Data about the incidence of cervical cancer among minority ethnic women are in short supply and some research findings are contradictory. For instance, Asian women may have either higher or lower rates of cervical cancer than the rest of the female population. Clearly further work is needed to establish whether Asian or other minority populations are high risk groups and why. There is also a need to assess trends regularly to see what impact migration has on incidence and mortality rates. Recent publication by the Health Education Authority of the results of its survey of health and lifestyles among black and minority ethnic groups in England provided welcome information about their uptake of cervical screening. Rates differ considerably between the different minority groups surveyed and the challenge now is to use all this information to inform the process of developing an approach to increasing uptake that is culturally appropriate.