Maria E. Fernandez, PhD, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Houston, 7000 Fannin, School of Public Health UCT 2558, Houston, TX 77030, 713/500-9626, mfernandez@uth.tmc.edu, Alicia Gonzales, MSW, National Center for Farmworker Health, 1770 FM 967, Buda, TX 78610, and Guillermo Tortolero-Luna, MD, PhD, Center for Health Promotion Research and Development, University of Texas Houston, 1200 Herman Pressler, School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030.

Breast and cervical cancer screening rates are lower among Hispanic women in the US and particularly among women living along the Texas-Mexico border and farmworker communities in other states. To increase mammography and Pap test screening among this population, the Cultivando la Salud (CLS) program was developed. The program was designed to increase screening among non-adherent Hispanic women aged 50+ living in farmworker communities women through an educational intervention based on the promotora (lay health worker)model for program delivery. The effectiveness of the program was assessed through an intervention group-randomized study design. Two communities were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (Eagle Pass, Texas and Merced, California) and two to the comparison condition (Anthony, New Mexico and Watsonville, California). Four hundred and sixty-four women non-adherent to breast and/or cervical cancer screening were identified and recruited to participate in the study. Among women previously non-adherent to mammography screening guidelines, 40.8% of women in the intervention group and 29.9% in the comparison group completed screening at 6-month follow-up (p=0.049). Similarly, a significant difference between intervention (39.5 %) and comparison groups (23.6%) was also found for Pap test screening completion (p=0.025). Assessment of factors influencing screening decisions (self-efficacy, decisional balance, perceived norms, and cancer beliefs) were also positively influenced by the intervention. In conclusion, CLS program appears to be effective in increasing Mammography and Pap test screening among farmworker women. Other findings will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the impact of a lay health education intervention on increasing cancer screening.
• To identify the impact of the intervention on secondary outcomes such as knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, etc.
• To describe effective strategies for influencing screening adoption among low-income Hispanic women.
• Recognize the potential of lay health worker (promotora)-delivered interventions with low-literate, low-income populations.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Cancer Screening

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.