| Learning Objective #1: Verbalize the role of community women in health promotion activities with their neighbors in an urban U.S. setting | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss two challenges to evaluating health promotion projects in low income communities in an urban U.S. setting |
Women have traditionally turned to other women for health advice and support. Promotoras, Doulas and midwives have assisted women with health needs long before the creation of the contemporary health care system. With the movement toward community outreach, 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 CHWs to 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, and in 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. These women identified lack of accessible care as the primary reason for not receiving regular preventive care. Eighty six percent of these participants demonstrated increased knowledge of breast and cervical cancer risk and stress reduction measures on post test. At 6 month follow up, 100% of those women contacted reported receiving Pap smears and mammograms, as appropriate. However, only 19% of the workshop participants were able to be contacted for follow up. The researchers conclude: CHWs are effective at reaching neighborhood women; finding accessible preventive care for low income women continues to be a challenge; tracking women in this population is difficult due to welfare to work requirements and population mobility; and the participants benefitted from booster educational sessions for maintenance of health knowledge and promotion of healthy behaviors.
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Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003