Exploring engagement in cervical cancer prevention services among Haitian women in Haiti and in the United States: a scoping review

Problem identification: Haitian women in Haiti and in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer, however their uptake of cervical cancer prevention services remains concerningly low. Literature search: A comprehensive search on bibliographic databases coupled with a grey literature search was conducted. A total of 401 studies were identified, with 28 studies retained after following Arksey and O’Malley’s Scoping Review Guidelines. Data evaluation/synthesis: Knowledge levels of HPV and cervical cancer, along with preventative measures was alarmingly low. Traditional health practices, cultural worldviews, and social networks had an influence on the uptake of cervical cancer prevention. Health systems barriers were found to be a prevalent barrier among Haitian women in the U.S. Conclusions: Future health promotion interventions developed for Haitian women must address personal, cultural, social, and structural factors with an emphasis on modifying knowledge and beliefs to improve engagement in cervical cancer prevention behaviors.