Reducing language barriers for cervical cancer screening in Somali women

Cervical cancer screening rates in Somali women in the United States are significantly lower than average, even when compared with other African immigrant women. Somali women face many barriers to cervical cancer screening (CCS), including language barriers, healthcare barriers, knowledge barriers, and cultural and belief barriers. The most significant of these barriers is often the language barrier.

At our academic institution in Rochester, MN, primary care patients who identified their preferred language as Somali and needed an interpreter were identified. A medical record review showed 151 Somali women overdue for cervical cancer screening. These patients were sent online patient portal messages in English with a QR (quick-response) code containing a video on cervical cancer screening in the Somali language, prompting them to schedule an appointment. If this portal message was not accessed after 2 weeks, the patient was sent a letter in English with the Somali QR video.

At the start of the study, 151 Somali patients were overdue for cervical cancer screening. Six months after the intervention, cervical cancer screening rates had improved in this population by 15% as compared to the control ( non-intervention) group, with only a 4.4% improvement.

The use of patient education in the form of a QR code containing the Somali language and culturally appropriate education on cervical cancer screening is an effective means of improving cervical cancer screening rates in a Somali patient population.