Cancer Screening Rates, Disparities by Immigration Status, and Predictors of Cancer Screening Among Black Women With HIV.

INTRODUCTION

People with HIV have a higher incidence and mortality from screenable cancers than the general population. Among women, the 4 most common cancers are breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancers. This study examined breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancer screening rates among Black women with HIV and disparities that exist by immigration status.

METHODS

With a sample of 604 women, we examined cancer screening rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancers and examined the rates by country of origin. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine potential factors affecting these rates and the odds of screening by country of origin: US-born women (USBW) and non-US-born women (NUSBW).

RESULTS

Cancer screening rates were low for all cancer categories for both groups. A screening rate of 48.7% was estimated for breast cancer (NUSBW-35.9% versus USBW-50.4%), 6.3% for lung cancer, 25.5% for colorectal cancer, and 72.8% for cervical cancer. NUSBW had lower screening rates for all 4 cancers compared with USBW. Possible predictors for cancer screenings were years of living with HIV [odds ratios (OR) 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.14] and no viral suppression (OR 0.34; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.76).

CONCLUSION

Black women with HIV and much more immigrant subgroups may face additional barriers to accessing required cancer screening services in addition to being disproportionately affected by HIV. This emphasizes the urgent need for tailored, culturally relevant outreach and education to enhance cancer screening.