Black women in the Mississippi Delta face a growing crisis as cervical cancer deaths continue to rise at alarming rates. A recent report by the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice (SRBWI) and Human Rights Watch reveals that state and federal policies are failing to address this preventable disease.
The report, titled “No Excuse: Inadequate Cervical Cancer Prevention and Care for Black Women in the United States Mississippi Delta,” highlights the stark disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Mississippi has the highest rate of cervical cancer deaths in the nation, with Black women 1.5 times more likely to die from the disease than white women.
Researchers interviewed 159 Black women aged 19 to 81 in Bolivar, Humphreys, and Washington counties. They uncovered significant barriers to care, including lack of affordable healthcare, limited access to gynecological services, and inadequate information about prevention and treatment options.
Structural racism and discrimination within the healthcare system have eroded trust among Black women, leading many to avoid seeking necessary care. Gloria Shields, a research associate, noted, “Many of the women we spoke with had horrible experiences with medical providers and felt that the care they received was subpar because of their race.”
The report calls for urgent action, including expanding Medicaid coverage and increasing funding for cervical cancer screenings and follow-up care through county health departments. It also emphasizes the need for better education about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which can prevent certain cancers.
Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald, SRBWI Regional Administrator, stressed the gravity of the situation: “Black women in the Mississippi Delta are dying at alarming rates from cervical cancer as a result of neglect and exclusion from the healthcare system.”
As cervical cancer awareness month continues, the report serves as a stark reminder of the work needed to eliminate these preventable deaths and ensure equitable healthcare access for all women in the Mississippi Delta.
See: “US: Mississippi Delta Urgently Needs Better Cervical Cancer Care” (January 29, 2025)
