Promising Programs in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and Health Care Addressing... researched and compiled by Sarah McCloskey, Erin Kennedy, and Michele Sloan December 2004 and updated November 2007
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California | Maryland | Mississippi | New Jersey | Ohio
Background
In 2003, approximately 556,500 people died in the United States of cancer, and the
largest portion of them were African Americans, who have the highest rate of cancer
incidence and death of all ethic or racial groups. According to the NIH,
socioeconomic levels are the biggest factor in the incidence of cancer. While
African Americans have the highest incidence of all cancers combined, Hispanics
have the highest incidence of cervical cancer. Asian/Pacific Islanders have the
lowest incidence of all cancers combined, but they have the highest death and
incidence rates of stomach and liver cancers. Disparities for minority cancer patients
can be seen in the forms of less radiation care after surgery, less aggressive
treatment, and fewer uses of new or more expensive treatment. In Delaware in 2002,
cancer mortality rates were 191 per 100,000 for whites and 226 per 100,000 for
African Americans. Both rates are lower than national averages of 192 per 100,000
for whites and 239 per 100,000 for African Americans.*
*Data provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts Online
www.statehealthfacts.org
State Programs
State programs tend to focus on prevention and awareness. Many programs offer
screenings to high-risk minorities at low or no cost. Some provide mobile
screening/testing centers, while others partner with health clinics and other
community organizations.
CaliforniaIncrease Cervical Cancer Screening Among Vietnamese American Women – The Vietnamese Community Health Promotion Project organized a coalition to prevent cervical cancer among Vietnamese American women in Santa Clara County. Coalition members held community forums, meetings, and retreats to identify barriers to Pap testing, and designed ways to address each concern. Six strategies were implemented, including a media education campaign; outreach efforts using lay health workers; patient navigation; a low-cost Vietnamese-language clinic (staffed by a female Vietnamese physician); mailed screening reminders; and advocacy to reestablish a breast- and cervical-cancer-control program in the county. Results show that, after meeting with lay workers, 46.8 percent of women who had never received a Pap test obtained one, and more than 1,214 Vietnamese American women called to receive more information and assistance. CDC Exemplary Program: REACH www.healthisgold.org
Weaving An Islander Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training (WINCART)– WINCART is an initiative, funded by a grant from the NCI’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, which seeks to reduce cancer disparities among Pacific Islanders in Southern California. By creating a network between community based agencies and five local universities, WINCART believes they can maximize community awareness and participation in reducing disparities through collaboration and valuable research. Some other practices of this organization include disseminating linguistically appropriate brochures and holding other events and educational sessions within the community. wincart.fullerton.edu
MarylandBaltimore City Cancer Plan Prostate Cancer Screening – African-American men in Baltimore City experience three times the age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality of Caucasian men. This program partners with seven community-based organizations to help encourage age-appropriate prostate cancer screening for minority populations. The goal of this project is to identify and treat prostate cancer for high-risk underinsured Baltimore residents. The program also educates the community about prostate cancer screening, provides opportunities to participate in no-cost screening, and provide diagnosis and treatment to eligible individuals. Source: APHA www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org/kpr/crf-community-coloncancerscreening.cfm
MississippiMississippi Breast and Cervical Cancer Program – The program targets women,
specifically African Americans and the elderly, who are uninsured, medically
underserved, and poor. Participants work to reduce differences in screening and
access to care and eliminate fear about cancer or being screened for cancer. The
Mississippi Department of Health and Early Detection Services provide this service
through funding from state, federal, and CDC funds. Pap smear tests are available
for uninsured women 18 years and older, and mammogram screenings are available
for uninsured women 50 years and older.
www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,0,103,html
New JerseyBergen County Education and Early Detection Program, Paramus –
The program’s purpose is to increase awareness of and screenings for prostate cancer
among African-American men. This is done through the use of African-American
celebrities and prominent pastors and community events where local hospitals give
free screenings. This is an APHA Statistics to Solutions program example. For
information about the program, visit www.bergenhealth.org/chronic and for more
recent information and success stories, visit
www.bergenhealth.org/healthpromo/articles/CEED%20Honored%200705.html
OhioBreast and Cervical Cancer – The local health departments in Ohio have teamed up with the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early-Detection Program to help screen underserved populations. This program uses a mobile mammogram unit as well as a team of volunteer translators to target Amish, Asian, Hispanic, and African- American communities. Source: APHA www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/hprr/bc_canc/bcanc1.aspx
For more information, contact Eric Jacobson (302-831-1711).
photo on this page courtesy of the Administration on Aging
