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Date
2025
Abstract
Cervical cancer is highly preventable and treatable through HPV vaccination and screening tests like Pap smears and colposcopies, yet stark disparities in incidence and outcomes persist worldwide. Eastern Africa, including Somalia, has the highest cervical cancer burden globally; Somalia’s incidence and mortality are approximately fourfold and tenfold those of the United States, respectively. Chittenden County, Vermont, is home to over 600 Somali New Americans, a population shown in past studies to have significantly lower cervical cancer screening rates than non-Somali patients in the US. Numerous barriers contribute to these disparities, including language and literacy challenges, cultural and religious beliefs, stigma, distrust of interpreters and the healthcare system, and shame and fear regarding female circumcision. This project aims to bridge the gap in cervical cancer screening rates for Somali New Americans in Vermont. In partnership with the Vermont Language Justice Project, I developed translated audiovisual resources in both Somali and Maay Maay to explain what cervical cancer is, the importance of screening tests, and how and why a colposcopy is done. These accessible, culturally sensitive tools aim to improve patient comprehension, facilitate shared decision-making, and increase screening completion with the goal of reducing disparities in cervical cancer outcomes.
Clinical Site
Community Health Centers of Burlington
Keywords
cervical cancer, Vermont, Somali refugees, health disparities, cancer screening, language barrier, reproductive health, New Americans, colposcopy, patient education
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Medical Education | Primary Care | Public Health Education and Promotion | Women's Health
Recommended Citation
Rogers, Jill C., "Understanding Colposcopy: Cervical Cancer Education For Somali Women" (2025). Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects. 1133.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1133
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Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Medical Education Commons, Primary Care Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, Women's Health Commons