Addressing colorectal cancer disparities in Canada's diverse communities
March: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Every year, March is a month dedicated to raising awareness about colorectal cancer (or colon cancer) in Canada. This cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Canada.
Despite the magnitude of this health issue and the availability of screening for all individuals over 50 in Canada, disparities persist in access to colon cancer screening.
Data shows that individuals from racialized communities are less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer in Canada. For instance, a recent study revealed that only 1.8% of the black population aged 50-74 was up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening in 2017, compared to 81.8% of the white population in the same age group. This percentage was also below 4% for other racialized communities.
Why these disparities?
Research has identified several key factors that contribute to these differences.
Some of the main contributors include social norms, limited knowledge about health and screening, limited access to healthcare, and attitudes and beliefs about cancer and screening among immigrants and minorities in Canada.
Additionally, cultural differences and stigma also play a significant role. Furthermore, mistrust of healthcare systems - often stemming from experiences of discrimination - is another important factor.discrimination, also plays a role.
What to do to improve the situation?
To tackle these issues, a multi-faceted approach is needed. Here are some strategies that can make a difference:
Community-centered solutions
Collaborate with communities to design screening programs that cater to their unique needs.
Develop culturally sensitive educational materials to raise awareness about colon cancer screening.
Host community events to promote screening and encourage people to take action.
Empowering healthcare providers
Offer training on addressing disparities in colon cancer screening.
Teach healthcare providers how to communicate sensitively and effectively across cultures.
Equip providers with resources and tools to better serve patients from diverse backgrounds.
Systemic Change
Collect and analyze data on race and ethnicity to better understand disparities in screening access.
Develop targeted screening programs to reach marginalized communities.
Implementing these strategies can help bridge the gap in colon cancer screening for marginalized communities and reduce screening disparities nationwide.
A collaborative effort is essential, bringing together communities, healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health organizations to drive meaningful change.
What are your thoughts ?
This newsletter post is written by Dr. Anifa Kalay, founder of KALKIS Health Solutions/Solutions en Santé KALKIS, a social enterprise based in Ottawa.
Its mission is to contribute to addressing health inequalities in Canada and around the world by providing educational resources for healthcare professionals and researchers , as well as consulting services in health project development and management for organizations and individuals.