The newly released report, titled "Partnering for Progress 2007: the 'State' of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America," reveals that although many states have made dramatic gains in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, racial disparities still persist in cervical cancer prevention and treatment rates for low-income women, particularly among minorities.
The report, which examined state-by-state cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, as well as each state's legislative initiatives on the issue, finds significant progress being made in the fight against cervical cancer.
In fact, this is the first year that a state-Minnesota-received a grade of Excellent, scoring 83 percent out of 100, or 15 out of 18 possible points. Among the other highest ranking states after Minnesota were Illinois with 78 percent, followed by Alabama, Connecticut, Maine, North Carolina and Rhode Island, each with scores of 72 percent.
At least, 82 percent of women in the top-performing states had health insurance (in Minnesota, a nation-best 91 percent were insured), at least 87 percent of women received screenings for cervical cancer, and each state's respective Medicaid programs covered HPV testing along with a Pap test for routine screening of age-appropriate women.
On the other end of the spectrum, the states with the lowest scores include Idaho, with 33 percent, followed by South Dakota and Utah, each with scores of 39 percent, and the District of Columbia, Iowa, Mississippi and Tennessee, each with scores of 44 percent.
Despite the significant steps being made to combat cervical cancer, including the introduction of more than 25 policy measures addressing the issue, incidence, screening and mortality rates were still higher for Hispanic and Black women than White women in most states throughout the country.
Currently, cervical cancer is the second leading cancer-killer of women worldwide, with almost a quarter-million deaths each year. In the U.S., the American Cancer Society estimated 9,710 women would be diagnosed with and more than 3,700 women would die of cervical cancer in 2006.
However, Susan Crosby, president of Women In Government, remains optimistic that new technologies and continued education will help eliminate these racial disparities in cervical cancer screening and treatment rates, as well as the disease itself.
Sharing her optimism with AHN Crosby says, "Our new report shows that the states are making impressive gains in the fight against cervical cancer. Now, with breakthrough technologies, such as a vaccine against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, as well as an FDA-approved HPV test for use in screening, we have a tremendous opportunity to actually eliminate cervical cancer."
