The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43403

Tu-Uyen Ngoc Nguyen, MPH¹, Lisa Fu, BA¹, Karen Rezai, MPH², Marjorie Kagawa-Singer, RN, MN, PhD¹, Chi Chiao, MS¹, Jeffrey Caballero, MPH², and Nina Lynn Agbayani, BSN, RN². (1) School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 310-794-6604, tuuyen@ucla.edu, (2) Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, 439 23rd St., Oakland, CA 94612

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women have the lowest breast and cervical cancer (BCC) screening rates compared to all other ethnic groups in the United States. Unfortunately, few programs have been specifically targeted and culturally tailored to promote and sustain screening practices for AAPI women.

The purpose of AAPCHO’s CARE Program (A Community Approach to Responding Early) is to reduce disparate breast and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality rates amongst AAPI women by building the capacity of community health clinics (CHCs) to deliver effective, culturally/linguistically appropriate BCC programs and services. During this presentation, we will discuss specific cultural tailoring strategies of BCC programs used by six different AAPI communities: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Samoan, and Thai. In particular, we will highlight common barriers and challenges as well as unique activities and resources used by each CHC.

Outcomes of the CARE program will be discussed, including the application of a theoretical framework and the publication of a CARE monograph highlighting what each CHC has done. Limitations and recommendations will also be presented regarding strategies for culturally tailoring programs to our diverse communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and articulate specific cultural strategies used by six different community-based organizations to educate and encourage Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women to get screened for breast and cervical cancer (BCC).
• Describe common and unique challenges and successes encountered by each organization in implementing BCC education and screening programs for AAPI women.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander Women, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.