Beyond The Screen: Barriers in Cervical Cancer Care
Location
Lions Eye Building
Presentation Date
30-10-2025 11:00 AM
End Date
30-10-2025 1:00 PM
Description
Cervical cancer is highly preventable through routine screening and timely follow-up, yet adherence to care after an abnormal HPV test remains suboptimal, particularly in underserved populations. Nationally, factors such as rurality, race, insurance coverage, and income have been associated with disparities in follow-up care. Louisiana consistently ranks among the states with the highest cervical cancer mortality rates, highlighting the urgent need for state-specific data to better understand these barriers.
This study leverages the LA Cervix Care survey to explore the sociodemographic and structural factors contributing to gaps in follow-up care after abnormal HPV results. We focus on barriers such as transportation, financial constraints, and access to specialty care, while also examining how geographic location (e.g., rural vs. urban ZIP codes) influences adherence. We hypothesize that women who have transportation difficulty and lack education on their cervical cancer health will report greater difficulty accessing follow-up care.
Findings from this study will help identify the most prevalent and modifiable barriers to cervical cancer care in Louisiana. By combining quantitative survey analysis with patient-reported barriers, we aim to inform tailored interventions that reduce loss to follow-up and advance health equity in cervical cancer prevention.
Recommended Citation
Abdelwahed, Leya, "Beyond The Screen: Barriers in Cervical Cancer Care" (2025). Medical Student Research Poster Symposium. 2.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/sommrd/2025MSRD/session2/2
Abstract
Beyond The Screen: Barriers in Cervical Cancer Care
Lions Eye Building
Cervical cancer is highly preventable through routine screening and timely follow-up, yet adherence to care after an abnormal HPV test remains suboptimal, particularly in underserved populations. Nationally, factors such as rurality, race, insurance coverage, and income have been associated with disparities in follow-up care. Louisiana consistently ranks among the states with the highest cervical cancer mortality rates, highlighting the urgent need for state-specific data to better understand these barriers.
This study leverages the LA Cervix Care survey to explore the sociodemographic and structural factors contributing to gaps in follow-up care after abnormal HPV results. We focus on barriers such as transportation, financial constraints, and access to specialty care, while also examining how geographic location (e.g., rural vs. urban ZIP codes) influences adherence. We hypothesize that women who have transportation difficulty and lack education on their cervical cancer health will report greater difficulty accessing follow-up care.
Findings from this study will help identify the most prevalent and modifiable barriers to cervical cancer care in Louisiana. By combining quantitative survey analysis with patient-reported barriers, we aim to inform tailored interventions that reduce loss to follow-up and advance health equity in cervical cancer prevention.
Comments
Mentor: Dr. Bilikisu Reni Elewonibi, LSUHSC-Department of Epidemiology & Population Health