Story Behind the Curve: Cervical cancer is the 17th most common cause of cancer death in Connecticut women, accounting for 1 in 100 cancer deaths. The age-standardized mortality rate of cervical cancer has been in significant decline for over 4 decades, falling from 4 deaths per 100,000 women in 1973 to 1 death per 100,000 women in 2016. The decrease in cervical cancer mortality rates is due largely to Pap-smear based screening, which can detect precancerous cells that can be treated before they develop into invasive disease.

Date of next data update: Aug 15th, 2024

Potential Partners

• Connecticut Department of Social Services
• Connecticut State Department of Education
• Office of the Healthcare Advocate
• Hospitals
• Local public health agencies
• Federally-qualified health centers
• School-based health centers
• Health care providers, including pediatricians
• Cytology laboratories
• Health professional associations
• Health insurers
• American Cancer Society
• Connecticut Cancer Partnership
• Community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations

Early detection of cervical cancer through Pap test screening has been determined to reduce mortality. Screening tests can find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear, when it can be treated more easily. In addition to detecting cancer early, screening for cervical cancer can prevent these cancers by identifying precancerous lesions that can be removed.

To ensure that all women who are age-appropriate receive the needed screening services, the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends:

• evidence-based client reminder systems
• small media targeted at specific populations in selected geographic locations
• one-on-one education
• evidence-based health care provider reminder systems
• evidence-based health care provider assessment and feedback systems

Potential Strategies

• Conduct public education and outreach initiatives to women to educate about the importance of regular Pap tests
• Conduct public education and outreach to female and males ages 13-17 on the importance of three-dose HPV vaccination, through peer-to-peer education
• Collaborate with large health systems including pediatricians to implement evidence-based client reminder systems, and provider assessment and feedback systems to improve completion of HPV vaccinations
• Utilize community health workers to conduct one-on-one and group education about the importance of cervical cancer screening at regular intervals, to assist with reducing structural barriers, and to provide support during treatment
• Utilize clinical health navigators to provide care coordination and patient navigation services to help all women with positive results get appropriate follow-up care, to assist with reducing structural barriers related to that follow-up care, and to provide support during treatment
• Collaborate with partners to increase availability of no-cost or low-cost Pap tests and HPV tests, and funding resources for treatment costs