Cervical Health Awareness Month: Screening & Prevention Resource Pack
Key Facts:
- Incidence & Mortality: An estimated 13,960 U.S. women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and ~4,310 will die in 2025 (ACS).
- Screening Efficacy: Regular Pap/HPV testing can detect precancerous changes up to 10 years before cancer develops.
- Vaccination Impact: Countries with ≥80% HPV-vaccine uptake report up to 87% reductions in HPV 16/18 infections (WHO).
- Equity Gap: Screening rates are 10–15% lower among rural, uninsured, and Black/American Indian women, driving higher late-stage diagnoses.
Editor's Note
This article is part of the BHM Healthcare Awareness Series, designed to provide quick, ready-to-use content and links to official resources for internal staff communications, patient education, and social media.
Feel free to copy, adapt, and share.
Observation Date
January
History & Impact
Cervical Health Awareness Month began in 1996 through the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) to spotlight the lifesaving power of routine Pap/HPV screening and HPV vaccination. What started as a grassroots effort is now supported by the CDC’s Inside Knowledge campaign, the American Cancer Society, and global partners such as the WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative. Throughout January, healthcare systems host screening drives, HPV-vaccine clinics, and staff education events to advance the goal of eliminating cervical cancer within a generation.
Why it Matters
- Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent high-risk HPV infection, yet the disease is highly preventable through vaccination and early detection.
- Closing screening gaps improves quality metrics (HEDIS Cervical Cancer Screening, Healthy People 2030) and reduces costly late-stage treatments.
Quick Actions for Your Organization
For Leadership
Embed cervical-cancer screening and HPV-vaccination targets into FY25 population-health KPIs.
Partner with state immunization coalitions to sponsor on-site or mobile HPV vaccine events.
Leverage value-based contracts to fund community outreach focused on rural and BIPOC populations.
For Implementation Teams
Run an EMR query for overdue Pap/HPV patients and launch a text-message recall campaign.
Set up “HPV-vaccine approved here” signage and quick-order sets in primary-care and OB/GYN clinics.
Use CDC Inside Knowledge posters in waiting areas and staff lounges; host a 15-minute lunch-and-learn on guideline updates.
Resources
Ready-to-Use Assets
The following links provide resources & information for creating internal or external campaigns to support or promote this healthcare observance. Please vet these resources for alignment with your organization.
- AACR – January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
- Cervical Cancer Awareness Month – Cervical Cancer Awareness Toolkit
- NCCC Cervical Health Awareness Month Action Toolkit
Talking Points
Copy & Paste Friendly
“Up-to-date Pap/HPV screening plus HPV vaccination can make cervical cancer virtually preventable. Check your status today.”
“HPV vaccines protect against the viruses that cause 9 out of 10 cervical cancers—recommended for ages 9–26.”
“Rural and minority women face higher cervical-cancer mortality. Join us in closing the gap with targeted outreach.”
Disclaimer: Please verify all information, usage rights, and related guidelines with the official observance organizers and your organization’s policies to ensure proper alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How can we measure the success of a Cervical Cancer Awareness Month campaign?
Track month-over-month increases in completed Pap/HPV tests, HPV-vaccine doses, and staff training attendance; benchmark against HEDIS metrics.
Q2. What low-cost activities for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month will engage employees?
Host a “Teal & White Day,” share CDC videos on intranet screens, and circulate a digital quiz with raffle prizes for completed entries.
Q3. How can we ensure our Cervical Health Awareness campaign reaches underserved populations?
Start with data; run disparity dashboards to spot gaps by ZIP code, race/ethnicity, or insurance status. Partner with trusted community organizations (e.g., FQHCs, faith-based groups) and offer multilingual CDC Inside Knowledge materials. Provide evening/weekend screening hours and coordinate transportation or mobile clinics to reduce access barriers. Track engagement metrics by demographic segment to verify impact and refine outreach.
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