Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Camp at Sivapreethi Hospital, Thanjavur, photo posted by Sivapreethi Hospital on Flickr

Introduction

Cervical cancer claims thousands of lives annually in the United States; however, we now know that it is largely preventable through widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine.  These vaccines are easily accessible in New Jersey from pharmacies and health clinics.  In addition to vaccination, cancer screening can support early identification and care.  The Madison Borough Health Department is responsible for local public health efforts.

Data

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducts a routine national survey known as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS).  In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the CDC released local level estimates on cervical cancer screening for 2020 and 2021.

Results

In Morris County, the estimated prevalence of cervical cancer screening (%) was 84.1 with 95% CI (82.0, 86.0) , and the age-adjusted prevalence (%) was 84.4 (82.4, 86.2) in 2021. According to Census 2021 county population estimates, 510,981 people live in Morris. In the census tract with Drew University, the estimated prevalence of cervical cancer screening (%) was 80.0 with 95% CI (76.0, 83.1) in 2021. This was the lowest prevalence in Madison. This is also lower than the County screening rate. According to Census 2010, there were 4,296 people live in this tract.

Conclusion

Understanding locational differences in cancer screening and and access to care lends insight to local and county health departments to see where targeted interventions can work to reduce gaps in material access and health disparities.

Health measures are also valuable in an environmental sense as we gain a greater understanding of how our built and natural environments contribute to specific pathways of disease, poor health or resilience and good health.

About the Data

The CDC Places data sets are part of a series, spelling out the acronym as Place Level Analysis and Community Estimates.  The latest estimates are for 2020 and 2021 for U.S. Census Tracts.

Other data sources visualized in the images here and on web maps are from the New Jersey Office of GIS (including County and Municipal Boundaries of New Jersey).

A webmap of the county level PLACES results can be found here: https://arcg.is/Ory5

A webmap of the census tract results for Madison can be found here: https://arcg.is/0zv5KH