Cervical Cancer Screening in Refugee and Migrant Populations: Results of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Cross-Sectional and Cohort Studies

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer in women. It is primarily caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections. Primary prevention methods, such as vaccines, and secondary prevention strategies, such as screening, have significantly reduced the burden of these diseases. The screening could be a crucial factor in the early diagnosis. This study aims to estimate the access of migrant and refugee populations to cervical cancer screening (CCS). Methods: A meta-analysis of scientific literature present in Pubmed and Scopus databases was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eighty-seven cross-sectional and five cohort unique studies were examined, to evaluate the participation of migrant and refugee populations to CCS programs in different world regions. Results: Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.2 software. Among cross-sectional studies, mean regular adherence to CCS for migrant and refugees resulted being 56% (95% CI 53–60), while participation at least once is 60% (95% CI 54–65). In cohort studies, regular adherence and participation at least once are, respectively, 55% (95% CI 50–59) and 56% (95% CI 52–61). Conclusions: The results of this review show how migrant and refugee populations have limited access to prevention interventions due to several socio-cultural factors. Our work calls for public health professionals’ efforts in order to promote more inclusive policies and prevention strategies towards those populations, aiming to reduce disparities and public health expenditures.