New research and public health data show that cervical cancer, once widely considered a preventable disease, continues to exact a disproportionate toll on people of color in the United States, exposing deepening gaps in awareness, screening, and outcomes that health experts say demand urgent attention. Although overall rates of cervical cancer have declined over the past decades thanks to widespread screening and vaccination efforts, communities of color — particularly Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations — still experience higher incidence rates, later-stage diagnoses, and greater mortality compared with White populations.

According to age-adjusted data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER program, Hispanic women have an incidence rate of approximately 10.0 per 100,000 for new cervical cancer cases, and Non-Hispanic Black women have a rate of 8.4 per 100,000, compared to 6.9 per 100,000 among Non-Hispanic White women. Mortality rates are similarly uneven: Non-Hispanic Black women face a death rate of 3.1 per 100,000, while Hispanic women are at 2.3 per 100,000 and White women at 2.0 per 100,000. Public health researchers and advocates stress that these disparities are not random; they reflect long-standing differences in access to preventive services, socioeconomic constraints, and gaps in health education.

Barriers to cervical health for people of color often begin with awareness. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the primary cause of cervical cancer, yet knowledge about the virus and the vaccine that prevents many of its cancer-causing strains varies greatly by race, ethnicity, and education. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that HPV awareness ranged widely by educational attainment and race, with awareness among Asian individuals at 46.9 percent and among White individuals at 70.2 percent, underscoring significant informational disparities. Less than a third of all adults surveyed knew that HPV could cause cancers other than cervical cancer, regardless of race. Experts say these gaps in basic awareness can contribute to lower uptake of preventive measures, including vaccination and regular screening.

Public health analysts have documented that uneven patterns of screening and follow-up care further exacerbate risk among racial and ethnic minorities. A multicenter study of cervical cancer screening practices found that non-Hispanic Black patients had lower screening rates over a three-year period compared to White patients. While Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander patients showed higher screening use in some settings, follow-up after abnormal results was insufficiently high across all groups, indicating missed opportunities for early detection.

The interplay of insurance coverage and socioeconomic status also plays a substantial role in late-stage diagnoses. An analysis of nearly 24,000 women with cervical cancer found that Black women had significantly higher odds of being diagnosed at an advanced stage compared with White women, and that insurance status mediated over half of the observed disparities. Researchers concluded that expanding access to quality care for uninsured and Medicaid-covered patients could help mitigate inequities in diagnosis and outcomes.

Structural factors, including systemic racism and healthcare fragmentation, are not abstract contributors to these inequities but lived realities embedded in communities’ access to care. Human Rights Watch has documented patterns of neglect and exclusion in reproductive health services in rural Southern states, where Black women face barriers to affordable, comprehensive care. These barriers have been linked to disproportionately high death rates and lower survival outcomes.

Cervical cancer is largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend regular screening with Pap tests and HPV testing for people with a cervix, and routine HPV vaccination for adolescents and young adults. Yet surveys show that awareness of both HPV and the HPV vaccine dropped significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Black women. Nonadherence to screening guidelines rose from 19.2 percent in 2019 to 25.8 percent in 2022, highlighting the fragility of prevention efforts and the need for renewed engagement with underserved communities.

Public health advocates stress that culturally tailored education and trusted communication channels are vital to improving cervical health outcomes in communities of color. Research indicates that preferences for health information sources and levels of trust in medical providers vary significantly by race and ethnicity, and that campaigns not attuned to these preferences may fall short of closing awareness gaps.