Discussion: The Endocrine and Reproductive and System

Type: Coursework

Subject: Pathophysiology

Subject area: Nursing

Education Level: Maters Program

Length: 2 pages

Referencing style: APA

Preferred English: US English

Spacing Option: Double

Instructions: for the endocrine and reproductive system, please choose a current topic of your choosing. ... you might approach it from a genetic, ethnicity, race, sex, environmental perspective. you can also report on two current journal articles. if possible consider framing it around a nursing situation. you can build it around your practice or proposed specialty. please support with current scholarly references.

Focus: for the endocrine and reproductive system, please choose a current topic of your choosing. ... you might approach it from a genetic, ethnicity, race, sex, environmental perspective. you can also report on two current journal articles. if possible consider framing it around a nursing situation. you can build it around your practice or proposed specialty. please support with current scholarly 

Important notes: the discussion has to be on the endocrine and/or reproductive system of your choosing. please minimum of three references a must

Racial/Ethnic Disparity in Accessing Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccine

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Racial/Ethnic Disparity in Accessing Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccine

All the United States population segments have reported a steady decline in cervical mortality rates and incidents. However, pronounced disparities in racial/ethnic minority groups are evident. The rate of cervical cancer and mortality rates is higher in African American women than Hispanic and Caucasian women. For instance, when comparing cancer mortality rates and incidence among Caucasian and African American women, the rates are higher among African Americans (105% higher) compared to their counterparts (38%)( Bond et al., 2016). Compared to Hispanic women, the cancer mortality rate remains high among African Americans, with 52% higher than 38% in Hispanic women (Bond et al., 2016).  Compared to white women, Asian American, Hispanic women, and African American women report higher mortality and incident rates. 

Black women are responsible for 8.9% of 100,000 new cases, Hispanic women cases are 9.4 per 100,000 cases, while white women account for 7.5 per 100,000 cases (Nardi, Sandhu, & Selix, 2016).  According to the 2013 National Health Interview Survey data, cervical cancer incidents are lower among Asian American women than their white counterparts, but their screening rates are lower.  The screening rates are also lower among African American and Hispanic women (Nardi, Sandhu, & Selix, 2016). Thus, the increased burden of cervical cancer among ethnic minority women is attributable to their lower rates or lack of screening.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. In 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of the HPV vaccine in preventing the oncogenic HPV strains prevalent in about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Consequently, the organization in 2014 approved another HPV vaccine that prevented 90% of oncogenic HPV strains (Bond et al., 2016). The vaccines are approved for boys and girls between 11 and 12 years and a catch-up vaccine for boys aged 13-21 years and girls aged 13-26. Scientists consider the HPV vaccine a significant cancer prevention breakthrough because of its potential to lessen cervical cancer rates. For instance, adolescents who access the vaccine build immunities against cervical cancer. Approximately 62.8% and 49.8% of girls and boys between 13-17 years in 2015 were vaccinated.  The percentage increased by 41.7% of boys and 60% of girls in 2014(Nardi, Sandhu, & Selix, 2016). Despite the increased uptake of HPV vaccines, efforts to increase access to a wider population are necessary because of cervical cancer screening and vaccination deficit in racial and ethnic minorities (Ginsburg & Paskett, 2018).  Health policy and public health leaders should focus on addressing cervical cancer inequalities.

 HPV vaccines can minimize the racial/ethnic inequalities in cancer screening and vaccination. However, the outcome greatly depends on the minority’s uptake of the HPV vaccine. For instance, among Medicaid adolescents enrolled, the rate of HPV vaccine uptake among African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian were 20%, 27%, and 32% respectively (Bond et al., 2016).  The statics suggests racial/ethnic variations in vaccine access. These differences raise a concern about the prevailing inequalities in cervical cancer mortality and morbidity. Thus, additional research is necessary to comprehend factors that influence HPV vaccine uptake and individuals’ decision to consider the vaccine. Patient and public education should consider individual’s culture in their education programs to overcome barriers to HPV uptake. 

Healthcare provider recommendations and parental decisions influence HPV vaccination uptake among adolescents. However, lack of parental understanding of the cancer vaccine undermines HPV uptake among younger adolescents.  Also, parents are reluctant to discuss sexual topics with their children, which impact the uptake of HPV vaccination. Therefore, addressing cancer screening and HPV uptake inequality among ethnic minorities is crucial to addressing cervical cancer mortality and incidence rates among the minority groups. 

References

Bond, S. M., Cartmell, K. B., Lopez, C. M., Ford, M. E., Brandt, H. M., Gore, E. I., ... & Alberg, A. J. (2016). Racial and ethnic group knowledge, perceptions and behaviors about human papillomavirus, human papillomavirus vaccination, and cervical cancer among adolescent females. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology, 29(5), 429-435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2016.02.005

Ginsburg, O., & Paskett, E. D. (2018). Ethnic and racial disparities in cervical cancer: lessons from a modelling study of cervical cancer prevention. The Lancet Public Health, 3(1), e8-e9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30233-5

Nardi, C., Sandhu, P., & Selix, N. (2016). Cervical cancer screening among minorities in the United States. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 12(10), 675-682.