January is Cervical Cancer Prevention/Awareness Month, and throughout the length of the chilly month, health professionals, women's health organizations and experts have made valiant efforts to spread important information, and shed light on the fact that Latina women are increasingly at risk of developing cervical cancer.

Women of color lead the pack when it comes to high incidences of cervical cancer and top most mortality rates. In fact, Latinas experience the highest development rate and second highest mortality rate (after black women) among all ethnic and racial groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While Latinas happen to be screened for cervical cancer at a rate that's similar to white women, Latinas continue to develop cervical cancer with more frequency.

Substantial strides have been made in the past four years to counter the presence of cervical cancer in the lives of Latinas and all women of color -- namely due to campaigns, public service announcements and increase access to healthcare. Nonetheless, according to Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH), women of color continue to suffer the highest cervical cancer death rates due to inadequate health systems that are set in place to provide lifesaving care. Financial barriers and language barriers are ongoing issues, as well as culturally incompetent providers, discriminatory immigration policies and other well-practiced systemic barriers perpetuated to keep women from the care that they need, ultimately causing preventable deaths.

"These barriers not only diminish crucial access to healthcare but also discourage Latinas from seeking the necessary treatment after a screening," said González-Rojas in a press release. "This month, as the 114th Congress begins its first session, my hope is to raise awareness and inspire leaders to reintroduce the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) to increase cultural competence and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in accessing healthcare."

Cervical Cancer Prevention Month acts as a reminder to Latinas and all women of color to seek out lifesaving healthcare coverage opportunities, provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Educating oneself and one's family about HPV and Cervical Cancer, and ACA as the Feb. 15 enrollment deadline quickly approaches, can very well save lives.

Important facts to know: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that infect the skin, some types cause genital warts and other types of genital HPV can be linked to abnormal cell changes on the cervix and cervical cancer. This can be prevented through regular screening and the treatment of abnormal cell changes.

Sexual encounters, even without penetration, can spread the virus through skin-skin contact; the virus is not spread through bodily fluids. And while the virus is harmless for most people, cervical cancer may develop. This is why it's important to receive regular pap smears, particularly because cervical cancer takes 10 to 20 years or more to develop. HPV testing detects virtually all precancerous changes, as well as cervical cancer.

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