January 31st 2025.
According to a recent report released by human rights activists, it has been determined that the state of Mississippi and the federal government have failed to protect Black women in the rural Mississippi Delta region from dying of cervical cancer. This joint report, conducted by The Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice and Human Rights Watch, has shed light on the persistent and glaring racial disparities in the rates of cervical cancer deaths.
The report highlights the lack of access to healthcare as a major contributing factor to why Black women in Mississippi are more susceptible to dying from cervical cancer. Released on January 29th, the report reveals that as of 2022, an estimated 10.8 percent of the state's population was without health insurance. Even more concerning, nearly 18 percent of women in their reproductive age were uninsured, with even higher rates among women of color.
One of the key issues identified in the report is the fact that Mississippi is one of only ten states in the U.S. that did not expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. This means that many low-income individuals do not have access to affordable healthcare, leading to the closure of rural hospitals and a shortage of healthcare professionals. As a result, Black women in the state face significant challenges when trying to access preventative care, such as cancer screenings and life-saving treatments.
The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that aims to promote a high-performing healthcare system, reported that in 2024, Mississippi ranked the lowest on its annual Women's Health and Reproductive Healthcare Report. This further emphasizes the dire need for improved access to healthcare in the state.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease for American women. However, shocking statistics from the American Cancer Society reveal that Black women die from cervical cancer at a rate that is 65% higher than white women. This is even more concerning when considering that Mississippi has one of the highest poverty levels in the country, with 19% of its population living below the poverty line.
In light of these alarming findings, the American Cancer Society has launched the Voices of Black Women study, which aims to enroll Black women from across the country to better understand and address the disparities in cervical cancer rates. It is crucial for the state of Mississippi and the federal government to take immediate action in providing affordable and accessible healthcare to Black women in the rural Mississippi Delta region, in order to prevent further loss of life due to cervical cancer.
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