As cervical cancer screening rates among young women continue to decline nationwide, a South Florida nonprofit is working to close the gap for women who face the greatest barriers to preventive healthcare.
Promise Fund, a South Florida-based nonprofit founded by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, has provided access to cervical cancer screenings to underserved women throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Martin counties. The organization focuses on women who are uninsured, underinsured or lack access to a regular healthcare provider.
Cervical cancer is highly preventable and treatable when detected early, yet a new study published August 27 in JAMA Network Open found that nearly one in three (32%) women ages 21-29 reported never having been screened for cervical cancer. That represents a dramatic increase from 2005, when 12.5% of women in the same age group had never been screened.
The study also found significant disparities based on insurance status, race and ethnicity, and education. The percentage of women who had never been screened was highest among those without health insurance (41.8%), followed by Asian American women (44.3%), Native American women (38.3%), Hispanic women (37.5%) and non-Hispanic Black women (33.9%). Nearly 40% of women with a high school education had never been screened, compared with 17% of women with master’s or doctoral degrees.
“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, and early detection holds the key to survival,” said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Promise Fund. “We are alarmed to see screening rates declining so dramatically. This study confirms what we are seeing in our own community: that lack of health insurance, access to healthcare, education and other barriers can prevent women from receiving potentially lifesaving preventive care. Here in South Florida, nearly 100,000 women are uninsured or do not have a medical home.”
Founded in 2018, Promise Fund is dedicated to increasing survivorship from breast and cervical cancer by providing women with guided support and access to screenings, early detection, treatment and care beyond treatment. Through its programs and partnerships, the organization helps women navigate the healthcare system and overcome barriers that can prevent them from receiving timely care.
“Screening is critical for detecting cervical cancer early, but prevention begins even earlier,” said Ambassador Brinker. “HPV vaccination can help prevent the infections that cause most cervical cancers. Unfortunately, we also see disparities in vaccination rates, and access to healthcare, education and other resources can have a direct impact on whether women receive this important protection.”
Promise Fund continues to work with healthcare providers, community organizations and other partners throughout South Florida to reach women who may otherwise go without critical cancer prevention and early-detection services.
For more information about Promise Fund and its programs, visit thepromisefund.org.
