Recorded presentation

Susan M. Swider, PhD, RN, Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Rush University, 600 S. Paulina, Rm. 1028B, Chicago, IL 60612, 312 942-8826, susan_m_swider@rush.edu and Claudia Baier, MPH, Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush Medical College, Rush University, 1700 W. Van Buren, Suite 470, Chicago, IL 60612.

Women have traditionally turned to other women for health advice and support. Promotoras, Doulas and midwives have assisted women with education and care long before the creation of the contemporary health care system. With the movement toward community outreach and primary care, and the data documenting that large segments of Americans are underserved by the medical system, interest in the utilization and evaluation of community health workers (CHWs) is gaining momentum. The purpose of this project was to train CHWsto provide education and referral focusing on women's health issues in an inner city public housing community. Specifically, the CHWs provided: education on breast self exams, Pap smears, mammograms, and stress management; and appropriate referrals, follow up and support for the participating women. During the two years of the project, CHWs canvassed over 1000 women door to door, in health fairs and community events. Of these women, 400 were provided with general health education and referral information. Of these, 100 women participated in a two-hour workshop teaching BSE and stress management and encouraging Pap smears and mammograms. Eighty six percent of these participants demonstrated increased knowledge of breast and cervical cancer risk and stress reduction measures on posttest. At 6-month follow up, 100% of those women contacted reported receiving Pap smears and mammograms, as needed. However, only 19% of the workshop participants could be contacted. The women contacted identified lack of accessible care as the primary reason for not receiving regular preventive care. The researchers conclude: finding accessible preventive care for low income women continues to be a challenge; tracking women in this population is very difficult due to welfare to work requirements and the prevalence of cellular phones; and the participants benefited from booster educational sessions for maintenance of health knowledge and promotion of healthy behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• The audience member will understand one method of working with CHWs to reach minority, low income women.
• The audience member will be able to critique evaluation methodologies for CHW programs.

Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Evaluation

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.

Recorded presentation