Improving Adherence Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment among Low-Income African American Women: A Photovoice Public Health Study

Despite improvements in cervical cancer treatability, there continue to be gaps in cervical cancer incidence and mortality rate among African American and low-income populations.1 These disparities are largely attributed to social determinants of health, which are health conditions that populations are born and cycled through as a result of their environment and zip code.2 The project itself is a qualitative study designed understand non-adherence to HPV, abnormal Pap screening and follow-up to abnormal screenings among low-income African American. The study will employ Photovoice methodology that is a participatory action research approach to engage community members by allowing them the opportunity to take pictures of the community in which they belong, engaging in dialogue about the photographs, and using photographs as a platform for change.3 Participants will be trained and invited to a focus group to share their photographs while the team analyzes photos to that are influence relevant factors. The results are anticipated to supplement previously published data to advocate for an adherence intervention.