Latinas and Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet

The incidence of cervical cancer for Latina women in the United States is highest amongst all racial/ethnic groups, almost twice as high as non-Latina white women. Latina women have the 2nd highest mortality rate from cervical cancer (after black women), although mortality for Latina women are higher in communities along the Texas-Mexico border. Latinas face high mortality rates from cervical cancer as a result of their low rates of cervical cancer screening. Latinas’ limited access to adequate cervical cancer screenings is a result of barriers to access such as fear associated with their lack of immigration status, embarrassment, lack of knowledge, lack of insurance and lack of English proficiency.