Date of Conferral

2-7-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Lee Bewley

Abstract

Cervical cancer affects women of all races; however, African American women are diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer at a higher rate than White women. A number of factors could be related to this disparity, including a lack of education about the disease, lack of insurance, and other barriers to cervical cancer screening. The purpose of this study was to evaluate modern factors associated with cervical cancer screening among African American women in the state of Georgia. Blum’s model of health determinants was the theoretical framework for this study. This cross-sectional quantitative study sought to evaluate if an association exists between cervical cancer screening among African American women and insurance availability, educational attainment, provider access, and race. Secondary data on 2,667 White and African American women in the state of Georgia were examined; the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System provided the data from surveys in 2019 and 2020. The data were analyzed using Chi-square tests.Chi-square results showed educational attainment was statistically associated with cervical cancer screening, (p=.005). Insurance availabilitywas statistically associated with cervical cancer screening, (p=.001). Access to provider was statistically associated with cervical cancer screening, (p=.002). However, race did not show anystatistical significance with cervical cancer screening in this study, (p=.091). The findings from this study have implications for positive social change and can be utilized by health professionals to providecervical cancer screening services as well as education because early cervical cancer screening can reduce mortality rates among African American women in Georgia and other at-risk populations.

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