Page 75 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 75
Human Papillomavirus Infection
and Cervical Cancer in Immigrant
and Refugee Women
Andrej Cör
University of Primorska and Valdoltra Orthopaedic Hospital, Slovenia
andrej.coer@fvz.upr.si
Cervical cancer is primary caused by infection with human papillomavirus
(HPV), and annually results in the deaths of 266,000 women worldwide. Cer-
vical cancer prevention strategies have significantly decreased its incidence in
Slovenia due to efficient screening program named ZORA; however, it contin-
ues to be an important health problem for immigrant and refugee women. Im-
migrant women from low- and medium income countries have a higher preva-
lence of HPV and consequently a higher risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer
than native women also due to barriers in access to screening programs and
vaccination uptake. Data from other countries show as that refugee girls had
significantly lower HPV immunization uptake compared with native born girls.
There is an urgent need for health providers to understand sociocultural bar-
riers for HPV screening programs and vaccination in order to provide compre-
hensive healthcare for all immigrant and refugee women.
Introduction
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is one of human rights applied to sex-
uality and reproduction. Migrant and refugee women are at risk of negative
SRH outcomes due to low utilisation of SRH services (Metusela et al., 2017).
Inadequate SRH knowledge combined with low use of sexual health services
can have serious negative health consequences for migrant and refugee
women (Henderson & Kendall, 2011). Identifying how SRH is constructed and
experienced by migrant and refugee women is essential in order to provide
culturally safe medical care, sexual health education and health promotion
and to increase capacity for all women in accessing SRH services.
Cervical Cancer
Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually
transmitted infection, may result in cervical cancer and cancers of the anus,
penis, vulva and oropharynx, among others. According to the WHO cervi-
cal cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women and with an es-
73
and Cervical Cancer in Immigrant
and Refugee Women
Andrej Cör
University of Primorska and Valdoltra Orthopaedic Hospital, Slovenia
andrej.coer@fvz.upr.si
Cervical cancer is primary caused by infection with human papillomavirus
(HPV), and annually results in the deaths of 266,000 women worldwide. Cer-
vical cancer prevention strategies have significantly decreased its incidence in
Slovenia due to efficient screening program named ZORA; however, it contin-
ues to be an important health problem for immigrant and refugee women. Im-
migrant women from low- and medium income countries have a higher preva-
lence of HPV and consequently a higher risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer
than native women also due to barriers in access to screening programs and
vaccination uptake. Data from other countries show as that refugee girls had
significantly lower HPV immunization uptake compared with native born girls.
There is an urgent need for health providers to understand sociocultural bar-
riers for HPV screening programs and vaccination in order to provide compre-
hensive healthcare for all immigrant and refugee women.
Introduction
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is one of human rights applied to sex-
uality and reproduction. Migrant and refugee women are at risk of negative
SRH outcomes due to low utilisation of SRH services (Metusela et al., 2017).
Inadequate SRH knowledge combined with low use of sexual health services
can have serious negative health consequences for migrant and refugee
women (Henderson & Kendall, 2011). Identifying how SRH is constructed and
experienced by migrant and refugee women is essential in order to provide
culturally safe medical care, sexual health education and health promotion
and to increase capacity for all women in accessing SRH services.
Cervical Cancer
Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually
transmitted infection, may result in cervical cancer and cancers of the anus,
penis, vulva and oropharynx, among others. According to the WHO cervi-
cal cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women and with an es-
73
