Rural–urban and racial/ethnic disparities in cervical
cancer incidence and mortality may also be due to differences
in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the primary
cause of cervical cancer [19, 21]. The 2005–2008
data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey indicate a higher HPV prevalence among black and
Mexican American women than among non-Hispanic
white women [22]. However, data on HPV prevalence are
not available by rural–urban residence.