The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45317

Judith E. Taylor, EdD, J. Todd Liddell, BS, Twyla Ratliff, BS, and Farrah L. Robinson, BS. Health Education, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS, W-1636, Columbus, MS 39701, 662 329 7227, jetaylor@dbtech.net

In 2000-01 the Health Education and Nursing Programs at Mississippi University for Women, the nation's first institution for the higher education of women, began collaborating to sponsor a Breast Cancer Education Awareness Project. The project was designed to promote awareness of (a) behavioral risk factors associated with an increased risk for breast cancer; (b)community resources for screening; (c) the need for compliance for breast self-examination (BSE) and mammography; and (d) general awareness of the prevalance of the disease in Mississippi. Given the historical significance of the university and similarity of mission the two academic programs share, the preventative venture was initiated. Joint support of the business community, regional health department, local Susan B. Koman affiliate, area health care providers, student organizations, alumni, media, and the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi were obtained. This presentation will share results of the planning and implementation process through the eyes of graduate students. Ongoing efforts to further promote Breast Cancer Education Awareness will also be addressed.

Learning Objectives: Participants attending this session should be able to

• Identify major states in the nation that are utilizing monies from the tobacco settlement for preventative health education efforts at the community level.
• Identify three sociodemographic factors which correlate with breast cancer morbidity and mortality in areas such as Mississippi.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mississippi Univ. for Women, Columbus, MS Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, Jackson, MS MUW is where we work or attend school and the Partnership is a supporter of our project.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I, Judith E. Taylor, work at MUW and have received funding from the Partnership one time to aid in a campus intitiative targetting young women.