Location
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Event Date
3-31-2026
Abstract
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Karen women, a predominant ethnic group in Myanmar. One of the largest and fastest growing Karen populations in the United States is located in Omaha, Nebraska. This two-part project had the following objectives: 1) evaluate cervical cancer health literacy among Karen women in Omaha and 2) address knowledge gaps with educational intervention. A survey was given to Karen women of the Karen Student Association at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and members of the Karen Christian Revival Church in Omaha, NE. The survey evaluated participants’ health knowledge pertaining to the female reproductive system and cervical cancer. An educational PowerPoint was then presented to the Karen Student Association, and the population was resurveyed. There was a 67% average improvement in correct answers after the educational intervention. The students demonstrated increased understanding of the purpose of pap smears, female reproductive anatomy, cervical cancer screening recommendations, and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer development. These results indicate that a brief 15-minute presentation can significantly improve health literacy regarding a life-threating disease which is prevalent in the Karen community. The presentation encouraged listeners to advocate for themselves by establishing care with a physician and obtaining recommended screening exams and vaccinations. Future steps include translating the educational materials into the Karen language and presenting them to the Karen Christian Revival Church. Overall, our results indicate that a brief educational intervention is a simple yet powerful method of improving health literacy which may be applicable to other immigrant populations who face similar healthcare barriers.
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Included in
Empowering the Karen Community: Using Education to Improve Cervical Cancer Health Literacy
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Karen women, a predominant ethnic group in Myanmar. One of the largest and fastest growing Karen populations in the United States is located in Omaha, Nebraska. This two-part project had the following objectives: 1) evaluate cervical cancer health literacy among Karen women in Omaha and 2) address knowledge gaps with educational intervention. A survey was given to Karen women of the Karen Student Association at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and members of the Karen Christian Revival Church in Omaha, NE. The survey evaluated participants’ health knowledge pertaining to the female reproductive system and cervical cancer. An educational PowerPoint was then presented to the Karen Student Association, and the population was resurveyed. There was a 67% average improvement in correct answers after the educational intervention. The students demonstrated increased understanding of the purpose of pap smears, female reproductive anatomy, cervical cancer screening recommendations, and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer development. These results indicate that a brief 15-minute presentation can significantly improve health literacy regarding a life-threating disease which is prevalent in the Karen community. The presentation encouraged listeners to advocate for themselves by establishing care with a physician and obtaining recommended screening exams and vaccinations. Future steps include translating the educational materials into the Karen language and presenting them to the Karen Christian Revival Church. Overall, our results indicate that a brief educational intervention is a simple yet powerful method of improving health literacy which may be applicable to other immigrant populations who face similar healthcare barriers.