Abstract
Latinas are at nearly double the risk for cervical cancer than non-Hispanic whites (NHW). The problem is especially severe in the border communities between Mexico and the United States. The border region includes some of the poorest areas in the United States and health services in the region remain scarce. Cervical cancer rates among the border population are high.
In this project, we worked with three local health care systems that provide services to the poor and underserved along the New Mexican/Mexican border. One system was the intervention health care system, while the other two were controls. We obtained names from the intervention clinic system of women who were out of compliance with pap testing; that is, they had not had a pap for three or more years. Promotoras (lay health workers) in the clinic system were trained to contact the non-compliant women. We prepared a PowerPoint presentation that described cervical cancer, explained how cervical cancer spread, and showed a brief video of a cartoon woman receiving a pap test. The PowerPoint was developed as a result of focus group discussions and was approved by the promotoras. The promotoras (lay health workers) went to the homes of the non-compliant women and used the PowerPoint presentation to educate the women about the importance of pap testing; they also helped arrange clinic appointments for women to receive pap testing.
A total of 198 non-compliant women in the intervention clinic system were contacted. Of these, 78% received pap testing within six months of being contacted. A baseline survey asked the women about knowledge of and attitudes toward cervical cancer screening. Data suggest that knowledge was not linked to compliance with pap testing. A final survey suggested that women who did not receive pap testing intended to be tested in the next six months. Comparisons with the control clinic is currently being made.
The project supports the idea that border women can be motivated to receive cervical cancer screening. Given that Latinas are at high risk for cervical cancer and given that a promotora approach is common in the border communities of New Mexico, this study shows that screening for cervical cancer can be increased among women at high risk. This approach may be useful in other border communities.
Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B101.
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