|
|
|
|
|
Jennifer L. Winkler, MPH, PATH, 1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107, (206) 285-3500, jwinkler@path.org and Patricia S. Coffey, PhD, MPH, PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), 1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107-5136.
Cervical cancer is one of the principal causes of preventable deaths among women in Peru. The Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) is collaborating with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MOH) to implement a project aimed at reducing the incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer among women aged 25-49 years. Project TATI (the Spanish acronym for TAmizaje y Tratamiento Inmediato, or Screening and Immediate Treatment) is implementing the Peruvian National Plan for the Prevention of Gynecologic Cancer in the Department of San Martin. Project TATI’s promotion strategy is designed for promoting education and information that facilitates women making decisions about their bodies. It employs a community-based model that emphasizes community promotion teams as the primary communication agents between health facilities and communities. Community promotion teams consist of one trained person from the Ministry of Health and one community leader in each health network. These teams are trained in participatory cervical cancer prevention promotion techniques and carry out a number of different community promotion activities. In addition to the expected outcomes of educated women and communities, promotion team members have reported changes in the equality of relationships with their partners, a new respect by community members, and that they have begun to take an active role in community politics. This presentation will explore this unexpected, but positive consequence of the health promotion activities in San Martin—the empowerment of the individual promotion team members.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant(s) will be able to
Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Community Involvement
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.