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Michigan
Community Collaboration on Cervical Cancer
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Public Health Problem
During 2001, 428 women in Michigan were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, and 132 women died of the disease. In addition, 8 of Michigan's 83 counties had cervical cancer mortality rates that were higher than the state's overall average (2.5/100,000). Cervical cancer is largely preventable and usually slow growing. The Papanicolaou (Pap) test is still the most commonly used cervical cancer screening method. In fact, the Pap test is one of the main reasons for the decrease, by as much as 74%, in the number of cervical cancer deaths since the test was introduced more than 60 years ago.
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Program Example
To address the high cervical cancer mortality rates, the Michigan Cancer Consortium (MCC) sponsored a project during 2002 in which five of the eight counties (Berrien, Cheboygan, Gratiot, Luce, and Sanilac) worked to lower their cervical cancer mortality rates. The goal of the 13-month project (September 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003) was to develop a community-based collaboration that would identify the communities' perceived barriers to screening for cervical cancer and then develop collaborative efforts with MCC member organizations in the area, local health care providers, local women, local health department staff, the American Cancer Society, and other interested stakeholders. In general, these collaboration partners talked with women in their communities, identified multiple barriers to screening, and developed public education messages designed to encourage screening. Women who responded to the messages, needed Pap testing, and qualified were referred to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) and to family planning programs in their counties.
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Implication and Impact
Each county developed its own unique strategic plan to address the high cervical cancer mortality rates. For example, Cheboygan County developed surveys, media advertisements, public service announcements, and flyers; County leaders sponsored free cervical cancer screening events. The health care providers who performed the Pap tests and pelvic exams donated their services, as did the laboratory that analyzed the Pap tests. A total of 84 women received cervical cancer screening services during these free clinic dates.
Although the project officially reached its conclusion at the end of September 2003, collaboration partners in these counties continue to implement the project's initiatives in their communities. Specifically, the Cheboygan County Community Coalition expanded the project to five neighboring counties that also sponsored free cervical cancer screening events. From mid-January through March 2004, the expanded project screened 180 women, of which 70 were enrolled in the BCCCP. Of the 180 women screened, 4 cases of cancer were diagnosed.
The evaluation of the Cervical Cancer Community Collaboration Project is ongoing, and impact data are still being collected. Preliminary results indicate that the project has increased the awareness of cervical cancer among both the public and providers in these communities; increased cervical cancer screening rates, even among women who in the past were rarely or never screened for cervical cancer; and increased BCCCP enrollment.
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Contact Information
Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program*
Cancer Prevention and Control Section
Michigan Department of Community Health
Washington Square Building, 5th Floor
109 Michigan Avenue
Lansing,
MI 48913
(517) 335-8049
Fax: (517) 335-9397
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