A community approach to addressing excess breast and cervical cancer mortality among women of African descent in Boston.
In 2000, the REACH Boston 2010 Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition conducted a community needs assessment and found several factors that may have contributed to disproportionately high breast and cervical cancer mortality among black women: (a) Focus group participants reported that many women in their communities had limited awareness about risk factors for cancer as well as about screening. (b) Black women experienced barriers to care related to the cultural competence of providers and of institutions. (c) Black women were not receiving adequate follow-up for abnormal mammograms and Pap smears. The Coalition's Community Action Plan to address disparities includes a model primary care service for black women; scholarships to increase the number of black mammogram technologists; primary care provider and radiology technologist training about disparities and cultural competence; and education to increase awareness among black women and to increase leadership and advocacy skills.
Bigby
JudyAnn
J
Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Center of Excellence in Women's Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jbigby@partners.org
Ko
Linda K
LK
Johnson
Natacha
N
David
Michele M A
MM
Ferrer
Barbara
B
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000193:education; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000078329:Workforce