SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-The Intersection of Incarceration and Cervical Cancer

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This study examined whether women with a history of incarceration are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, a preventable and screenable cancer, compared with non-screenable cancers. Using linked data from a major academic medical center and a state Department of Corrections, researchers compared females with cervical cancer to those with other cancers for which routine screening is not recommended.<br /><br />Key findings showed that women diagnosed with cervical cancer were younger on average than those with non-screenable cancers. A history of incarceration before cancer diagnosis was uncommon overall, but was more frequent among cervical cancer cases. In unadjusted analysis, women with prior incarceration had about 7 times higher odds of cervical cancer than women without incarceration history. After adjusting for race and age, the odds remained significantly elevated at 3.86.<br /><br />Race also appeared to be associated with higher cervical cancer rates, with Non-white and Unknown race categories showing higher odds compared with White women, though no statistically significant differences were found between race categories in the adjusted models.<br /><br />The authors conclude that incarceration is associated with a substantially higher likelihood of cervical cancer diagnosis even after release, suggesting persistent barriers to screening and prevention. They recommend improved access to cervical cancer screening services after incarceration, updated correctional health guidelines to reflect current HPV vaccination recommendations, and exploration of easier screening methods such as self-collection. The study was limited by missing data on other cervical cancer risk factors and broad race/ethnicity categories, highlighting the need for better linkage of social and medical data in future research.

Asset Subtitle

Farah A. Kaiksow

Meta Tag

Author List Farah A. Kaiksow, John Eason, John Krebsbach, Kaelin Rapport, Karen Reece, Kristin Merss, Marguerite Burns, Michael Lasarev, Noelle LoConte

Category Research

Concept Incarceration History

Concept Cervical Carcinoma

Concept Odds Ratio

Concept Logistic Regression

Concept Screening

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Presenting Author Farah A. Kaiksow

Track Other

Keywords

cervical cancer

incarceration history

women's health

cancer screening

HPV vaccination

correctional health

racial disparities

screening barriers

self-collection

linked health data

Incarceration History

Cervical Carcinoma

Odds Ratio

Logistic Regression

Screening