At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting on April 1, researchers said that the human papillomavirus (HPV) lasts longer in African-American women than in their white counterparts. This may shed light on some of the disparities that exist among women from different ethnic groups regarding HPV and cervical cancer.
HPV is a virus that is contracted through sexual contact. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital area, throat and mouth. Condoms lower the risk of transmitting the virus, but areas not covered by condoms can still become infected. The CDC estimates that 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.
In addition to causing genital warts, another major health problem that results from HPV is cervical cancer and other genital cancers. Cancer and warts result from the body's inability to return the infected cells back to normal. In addition to the use of condoms, a vaccine (i.e. Gardasil) can lower your risk of developing warts and/or cancer. Gardasil protects against 4 types of HPV. Condoms should still be used because other types of HPV exist, and to protect against other sexually transmitted infections. Gardasil is recommended for girls and boys ages 9-26. Prevention means working to stop something before it occurs. Even if an individual has not yet had her first sexual contact, she should still be vaccinated.
In recognition of National Minority Health Month, it is important to outline the disparities associated with HPV and cervical cancer among women. While the incidence of cervical cancer among non-Hispanic white women was 8.5 in 100,000 women, the incidence was 13.8 and 11.4 for Hispanic and African-American women respectively. Despite the fact that Asians and Native Americans and Alaskins had a lower incidence of cervical cancer than their white counterparts, these minority groups were more likely to die from cervical cancer; Hispanics and African-Americans were more likely to die as well.
These disparities may stem from several issues. Regardless of race, uninsured women are less likely to have regular PAP smears, and thus may not learn they have cervical cancer until it is advanced. However, it is also true that many uninsured women happen to come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and/or are from ethnic minority groups. Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a report that in 2005 many uninsured people were just above, at or well below the poverty line. The same HHS report said that Hispanics are disproportionately uninsured as they represent 14% of the general population but 30% of the uninsured population. As a group, Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians and Asians/Pacfiic Islanders constituted 52% of the uninsured population.
Many cases of cervical cancer are related to HPV. Many minority groups are not well-educated about how HPV is contracted, spread and treated. This may relate to the level of access to general education and health care. Even among minority women that are educated and have access to regular health care, cultural attitudes toward Western medicine and the health care system may contribute to these disparities. These same factors can also influence whether or not a woman chooses to be vaccinated for HPV. Lower vaccination rates can lead to an increased risk for contracting HPV, and the development of cervical cancer.
The study presented at the AACR annual meeting found a biological factor that may also contribute to disparities related to HPV. The investigators found that African-American women hold on to HPV longer in the body than their white counterparts; this may be a reflection of their genes and immune systems. Kim Creek, vice-chair and professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at South Carolina College of Pharmacy said, " [the] body recognizes it [HPV] as a viral infection and usually clears the virus within one or two years...It is those women who have difficulty clearing it that are at higher risk of cervical disease and cervical cancer." This recent finding may help explain the higher prevalence of cervical cancer among African-Americans. It would be interesting to study whether other minority groups disparately affected by HPV and cervical cancer, also hold on to the HPV virus longer than their white counterparts.
In summary, access to health insurance, education, health care, cultural attitudes and genetics are all factors that contribute to health disparities related to HPV and cervical cancer. It is clear that this is a complex problem. Cultural competency within the health care system, and initiatives that target high-risk populations will help us make great strides toward the elimination of health disparities.
HPV is a virus that is contracted through sexual contact. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital area, throat and mouth. Condoms lower the risk of transmitting the virus, but areas not covered by condoms can still become infected. The CDC estimates that 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.
In addition to causing genital warts, another major health problem that results from HPV is cervical cancer and other genital cancers. Cancer and warts result from the body's inability to return the infected cells back to normal. In addition to the use of condoms, a vaccine (i.e. Gardasil) can lower your risk of developing warts and/or cancer. Gardasil protects against 4 types of HPV. Condoms should still be used because other types of HPV exist, and to protect against other sexually transmitted infections. Gardasil is recommended for girls and boys ages 9-26. Prevention means working to stop something before it occurs. Even if an individual has not yet had her first sexual contact, she should still be vaccinated.
In recognition of National Minority Health Month, it is important to outline the disparities associated with HPV and cervical cancer among women. While the incidence of cervical cancer among non-Hispanic white women was 8.5 in 100,000 women, the incidence was 13.8 and 11.4 for Hispanic and African-American women respectively. Despite the fact that Asians and Native Americans and Alaskins had a lower incidence of cervical cancer than their white counterparts, these minority groups were more likely to die from cervical cancer; Hispanics and African-Americans were more likely to die as well.
These disparities may stem from several issues. Regardless of race, uninsured women are less likely to have regular PAP smears, and thus may not learn they have cervical cancer until it is advanced. However, it is also true that many uninsured women happen to come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and/or are from ethnic minority groups. Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a report that in 2005 many uninsured people were just above, at or well below the poverty line. The same HHS report said that Hispanics are disproportionately uninsured as they represent 14% of the general population but 30% of the uninsured population. As a group, Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians and Asians/Pacfiic Islanders constituted 52% of the uninsured population.Many cases of cervical cancer are related to HPV. Many minority groups are not well-educated about how HPV is contracted, spread and treated. This may relate to the level of access to general education and health care. Even among minority women that are educated and have access to regular health care, cultural attitudes toward Western medicine and the health care system may contribute to these disparities. These same factors can also influence whether or not a woman chooses to be vaccinated for HPV. Lower vaccination rates can lead to an increased risk for contracting HPV, and the development of cervical cancer.
The study presented at the AACR annual meeting found a biological factor that may also contribute to disparities related to HPV. The investigators found that African-American women hold on to HPV longer in the body than their white counterparts; this may be a reflection of their genes and immune systems. Kim Creek, vice-chair and professor of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at South Carolina College of Pharmacy said, " [the] body recognizes it [HPV] as a viral infection and usually clears the virus within one or two years...It is those women who have difficulty clearing it that are at higher risk of cervical disease and cervical cancer." This recent finding may help explain the higher prevalence of cervical cancer among African-Americans. It would be interesting to study whether other minority groups disparately affected by HPV and cervical cancer, also hold on to the HPV virus longer than their white counterparts.
In summary, access to health insurance, education, health care, cultural attitudes and genetics are all factors that contribute to health disparities related to HPV and cervical cancer. It is clear that this is a complex problem. Cultural competency within the health care system, and initiatives that target high-risk populations will help us make great strides toward the elimination of health disparities.
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