TITLE:
Identification of the Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns among Black Caribbean Women Using Dendrogram and Decision Tree
AUTHORS:
Anny D. Rodriguez, Emir Veledar, Patria Rojas, Richard Tardanico, Vukosava Pekovic, Nasar U. Ahmed
KEYWORDS:
Cervical Cancer, Screening, Barriers, Clustering
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.11 No.9,
September
19,
2023
ABSTRACT: Cervical cancer is a preventable yet significant cause of cancer-related
deaths among women worldwide, particularly affecting socioeconomically
disadvantaged groups and racial/ethnic minorities. Studies have found African
American women to have higher incidence and prevalence of cervical cancer when
compared to Caucasian women, but few studies have investigated the subgroups
within the Black diaspora and their disparities, including Black Caribbean
women. This study focuses on Black Caribbean women and the disparities in
cervical cancer outcomes within this population and to identify barriers to screening
and examine screening behaviors to develop culturally sensitive interventions. Data
from 124 Black Caribbean women were analyzed, considering demographics,
cervical cancer knowledge, screening practices, and healthcare-seeking
behaviors. Two clustering methods, dendrograms and classification and
regression trees, were performed to visualize and understand patterns in
screening behaviors. The findings revealed disparities in screening rates based on age and country of birth, with older women
and US-born participants having higher screening rates. Healthcare provider recommendations played a crucial role in screening adherence. The study
emphasizes the need for culturally tailored screening programs and awareness
campaigns to address knowledge gaps and cultural beliefs affecting screening
behaviors. Improving knowledge, understanding cultural beliefs, and enhancing
patient-provider relationships are essential in reducing the disparity in
cervical cancer outcomes among Black Caribbean women in South Florida and
similar populations.