The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62272

Lisa Fu, MPH¹, Tu-Uyen Ngoc Nguyen, MPH¹, Karen Rezai, MPH², and Marjorie Kagawa-Singer, RN, MN, PhD¹. (1) School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 1454 Princeton Street #5, Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310-403-5879, fu111@hotmail.com, (2) Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment and Leadership, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, 439 - 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94162

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women have the lowest breast and cervical cancer (BCC) screening rates compared to all other ethnic groups in the United States. The purpose of AAPCHO’s CARE Program (A Community Approach to Responding Early) was to reduce disparate breast and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality rates amongst AAPI women by building the capacity of community health centers (CHCs) to deliver effective, culturally/linguistically appropriate BCC programs and services.

This presentation will discuss the critical role of community health educators in educating and encouraging Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women to get screened for breast and cervical cancer (BCC) in six different AAPI communities: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Samoan, and Thai. Specifically, we will highlight the activities, challenges, and successful strategies used by community health educators in the Cambodian and Filipino communities.

The presenters will also review limitations and recommendations regarding strategies for culturally tailoring programs to the six diverse AAPI communities. Outcomes of the CARE program will be presented, including the application of a theoretical framework and the publication of a CARE monograph highlighting the work of each community health center.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Define and articulate the importance of community health educators at community health centers to educate and encourage Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women to be screened for breast and cervical cancer (BCC).
• 2)Identify and articulate specific cultural-tailoring strategies used by community health educators in Cambodian and Filipino communities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.