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Abstract #151657

Lorencita Martin, MPH¹, Sylvia Brown, MPH², Robin Harris, PhD³, and Delores Ami¹. (1) Hopi Women's Health Program, PO Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039, (2) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona: College of Public Health & Arizona Cancer Center, 1215 N. Martin, Room A 242, Tucson, AZ 85750, 520-626-3507, srbrown@u.arizona.edu, (3) Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona: College of Public Health & Arizona Cancer Center, 1215 N. Martin, Tucson, AZ 85750

In 1996, the Hopi Women's Health Program (HWHP) was created to increase cancer screenings on the Hopi reservation. This was motivated by the results of a 1993 study conducted in collaboration with the University of Arizona (UA) that indicated only 45% of Hopi women over age 50 ever received a mammogram and 26% had one within the preceding two years. Recently, the HWHP requested assistance in evaluating the effectiveness of its efforts. Frequent communication identified questions to be asked, data sources, and format for presentation. Numerous challenges to the program's effectiveness were identified: long distances to travel for appointments (population density = 2.7 persons per square mile) and for providing transportation to appointments or making home visits (Hopi case managers traveled 30,000 miles in 1 year alone), limited telephone access (32% of occupied housing units have no telephones), and limited personal transportation (25% of housing units have no vehicle). In spite of these challenges, program data indicate that the HWHP has screened more than 80% of Hopi women age 40-64 and that these women are returning yearly for screening. A very high proportion of these women were never screened before: 57% of those age 40-49 and 35% of those aged 50-59. In addition, data indicate that the HWHP has been effective in reaching non-Hopi community members. 25% of all mammograms screenings and 31% of the women never previously screened were not enrolled tribal members. Implementation of HWHP has proven to be an effective strategy for increasing cancer screening.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Describe the public health benefits accrued to the Tribes and to researchers in conducting collaborative research in Indian Country
• 2.Recognize the challenges when conducting collaborative research in Indian Country
• 3.Describe the response of women to a tribally centered Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
• 4.List the barriers to effective implementation of a Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program on the reservation.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

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.