Breast cancer and early detection of the disease is a significant issue for all women. However, this is especially true for minority and older women living in underserved communities. According to Health People 2010, one of the major priorities highlights the need for strong, cohesive, and integrated educational and community-based programs for racial and ethnic minorities. There is a need to use interventions specifically designed to meet the age, develomental levels, and culturally, linguistic, and other learning needs of diverse audiences. Also, there is a need to increase partnerships between planned community health promotion programs and community organizations.
According to Cancer Outreach Services (COS) of Thompson Cancer Survival Center located in Knoxville, Tennessee there is a definite need to reach African American women in impovershed and/or underserved areas, particularly in the East Tennessee Region. Also, the Cancer Outreach Services pointed out that there were no known culturally-sensitive breast health programs specifically designed for African American women in the East Tennessee Region. This presentation will discuss the implementation of the community-based project, "Witnessing In Tennessee" (WIT), a breast health project presented in churches and designed to increase awareness and screening among African American women in Tennessee, specifically Knox and Blount Counties. Also, analyses of the qualitative data along with the quantitative data will be presented to address the effectiveness of the project.
Learning Objectives: (1)To understand strategies for implementing a culturally-sensitive, community-based breast health program for African American women, as well as minority and underserved populations. (2)To become aware of and understand the components of Witnessing In Tennessee, an African American breast health project in East Tennessee. (3)To understand the impact and outcome of Witnessing In Tennessee through data analyses.
Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Community Outreach
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The project is funded through the foundation of Thompson Cancer Survival Center (Knoxville, TN) and the Susan G. Komen Foundation
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.