Online Program

289022
Mujer sana, familia fuerte: A promotoras-led cervical cancer prevention project for Latinas in the United States


Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Marcela Vargas, MPH, Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
A. Manuela McDonough, MPH, Institute of Hispanic Health, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
Delia Pompa, MA, Programs, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
Charlotte Kabore, MS, MPH, MCHES, Division Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Britt Rios-Ellis, PhD, MS, NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Selena T. Nguyen-Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Melawhy Garcia, MPH, NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Carmen Velasquez, Executive Director, Alivio Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Alicia Wilson, Executive Director, La ClĂ­nica del Pueblo, Washington, DC
Background: In Latin America, interventions using promotores (community health workers) have been effective in increasing knowledge, changing behavior, and increasing positive attitudes towards Pap tests. In the U.S., Latina women have an incidence rate of cervical cancer that is twice as high and mortality rate that is 50% higher than non-Hispanic Whites. 38.1% of Latinas in the U. S. are foreign born, making incorporation of international strategies imperative. Objective: In an effort to reduce cervical cancer disparities, the National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Institute for Hispanic Health, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provided the Latina community with the culturally and linguistically appropriate intervention, Mujer Sana, Familia Fuerte (Healthy Woman, Strong Family) for cervical cancer prevention. Methods: This promotores-led project reached out to primarily foreign-born Latina women in order to increase knowledge, change attitudes, increase self-efficacy, and increase cervical cancer screening among Latina women. The project was implemented with NCLR affiliates in Chicago, IL and Washington, DC. Results: While the vast majority of participants reported having had a Pap test at some point, less than 20% reported speaking with their doctors about cervical cancer. Post-charla, participants demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge and intent to test; these changes remained significant at follow-up. Conclusions: The project has demonstrated effectiveness in increasing cervical cancer knowledge, positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and intentions to obtain cervical cancer screenings for a primarily foreign-born Latina population. Detailed follow-up results and lessons learned from project implementation will be presented.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of using an international perspective in reaching the Latino population in the United States Discuss challenges faced in reaching a primarily foreign-born Latina population with cervical cancer prevention information Describe strategies to overcome challenges faced in providing cervical cancer prevention information to a primarily foreign-born Latina population

Keyword(s): Cancer Screening, Latinas

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the field of reproductive health for three years, with a particular interest in marginalized populations. In addition, I am the main coordinator for this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.