Cervical cancer is highly treatable and
preventable when caught early with screening tests. Improvements in screening in the form of routine
Pap tests have contributed to significant declines in
cervical cancer mortality over the past 40 years, reducing health care costs and saving lives. Still, there were an estimated
13,400 new cases in 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute. This Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, data-driven solutions can help further reduce these estimates.
Community health initiatives can provide education and screening for many preventable chronic diseases, including cervical cancer. Over the last two decades,
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center — Louisiana’s leading cancer care organization — has completed more than 125,000 free cancer screenings through their
Prevention on the Go (POGO) program, diagnosing nearly 1,000 cancers that may have gone undetected. POGO is launching a new initiative this year to offer self-collection tests for human papillomavirus (HPV), the
leading cause of cervical cancer, as well as the necessary follow-up care for those who test positive.
Nationwide Data Show Varied Screening Rates by Demographic Group
Differences in rates of cervical cancer screenings persist between demographic groups nationwide.
America’s Health Rankings data show that the
prevalence of cervical cancer screening is higher among groups including:
- Non-Hispanic white and multiracial women compared with Asian women.
- Women ages 35-44 compared with those ages 25-34.
- Women without a disability compared with those who have difficulty with mobility and those with independent living difficulty.
Additional studies have found that rates of cervical cancer screening are
higher among women with a usual source of care compared with those who have none or who use emergency departments for care, as well as women with insurance compared with those without insurance.
Louisiana Screening Rates Reflect These National Trends
Louisiana’s No. 5 ranking for cervical cancer screening (
57.7%) is consistent with the state’s high rates of other cancer screenings. Their combined rate of breast and colorectal
cancer screenings was
67.6% in 2024 — ranking them No. 12 in the nation and significantly above the national average.
However, Louisiana’s cervical cancer screening rates differ between demographic groups. For example, 65.1% of college graduates received cervical cancer screening, compared with 46.0% of high school graduates/GED. Additionally, 64.5% of Louisiana women with a household income of $75,000 or more received cervical cancer screening compared with 44.2% of peers with a household income of less than $25,000.
How the United Health Foundation is Helping Improve Women's Health
Recognizing the inconsistency between high rates of cervical cancer screening and high cervical cancer mortality rates in Louisiana, the United Health Foundation is partnering with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) to pilot a new cancer prevention program focused not only on providing cervical cancer screenings, but also offering necessary follow-up care for women requiring additional testing.
Through this new program, women who receive HPV screening and test positive for HPV 16 and/or 18 (two strains of the virus closely associated with cervical cancer) can access more timely follow-up care, which includes a diagnostic cervical exam known as a colposcopy. For many women — including those in rural areas — access to colposcopy services is often delayed due to limited provider availability or lack of insurance. By leveraging
POGO's mobile medical clinics and training nurse practitioners to facilitate follow-up care, MBPCC will be able to establish a mobile colposcopy clinic, expanding access to this essential procedure for women who might otherwise go without timely care.
“This program is about more than screenings — it’s about changing outcomes,” said Constance Blunt, MD, medical director, Prevention on the Go. “By offering free cervical cancer screenings, especially in rural communities, we are reaching individuals who might otherwise delay or skip care altogether. Early detection can make all the difference, and this initiative will help us identify cancer sooner, connect patients to care faster and strengthen the health of our communities.”
Explore State-Level Data on Cancer Screenings by Demographic Group
America’s Health Rankings data show that cancer screening rates often differ by demographic groups, though the most affected groups vary by state. Detailed demographic group data can help health leaders and policymakers drive action to improve local health outcomes.
For more information on women’s health, explore Louisiana’s data from the 2025 Health of Women and Children Report.
Relevant Links and Resources
