Addressing the cervical cancer burden in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas through a multi-component program to improve screening and diagnostic follow-up: A retrospective cohort study.

Abstract

We implemented a multicomponent intervention to increase rates of colposcopy after abnormal screening results in three clinic systems in the Rio Grande Valley, along the Texas-Mexico border. There was a significant increase in the proportion of women who underwent colposcopy from Year 1 (82.7%) to Year 2 (90.6%), and mean interval from screening to colposcopy decreased significantly from 79 days to 49 days. Results suggest multicomponent interventions can improve and sustain appropriate and timely colposcopy among women in medically underserved regions.