An ecological analysis of the incidence of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in Hispanic women in the United States.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between county-level characteristics and the incidence of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix among Hispanic women.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program's 18 registries from 2000-2009 were queried. Average annual age-adjusted incidence rates for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix among Hispanic women were calculated. Patients were then stratified by residence in a county with high vs low percent language isolation (LI), income, and education levels.

Results: Among Hispanic women living in high LI, the highest incidence of cervical cancer was found among women residing in counties with low incomes and low education levels (11.3; CI: 10.8-11.8).

Conclusions: County-level characteristics are associated with cervical cancer incidence in Hispanic women. A more precise understanding of contributing socioeconomic factors such as language may facilitate the design of targeted research studies and interventions, and community-level public policy interventions might be effective in reducing the unequal burden of cervical cancer in Hispanic women in the United States.