Cultural shifts: an examination of cervical cancer stigma across age groups in the Caribbean

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer-related stigma is common but understudied in the Caribbean. This study aims to describe the age difference of cervical cancer stigma and to evaluate the influence on the prevention practices among the Caribbean nonpatient population in Jamaica, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 1209 participants was conducted using a culturally trans-created Cancer Stigma Scale for the Caribbean context and supplemented with questions on cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine knowledge and beliefs. Descriptive analyses and χ2 tests were conducted. Results: The χ2 tests showed age is statistically significantly related to participants' response to stigma items such as "community members believe cervical cancer is viewed as shameful"(P =. 0001); "women with cervical cancer are treated with less respect than usual by others"(P