Community health theaters with male migrant farm workers


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3067.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 10:30 AM

Abstract #121201

Mauricio Rodriguez, AA¹, Helda Lucia Pinzon-Perez, PhD, CHES², Jose Antonio Gonzalez, MPH³, Octaviano Montejano, Student⁴, Gabriela Delgado, BA⁵, and Tonantzin Soto, BS¹. (1) Health Science Department, California State University, Fresno, 2345 East San Ramon Ave, M/S MH 30, CSUF-Department of Health Science, Fresno, CA 93740-803, (559)970-6357, mobeone18@csufresno.edu, (2) Department of Health Science, California State University, Fresno, 2345 East San Ramon Ave, CSUF-Department of Health Science, Fresno, CA 93740, (3) Health Education -State Health Programs, Health Net of California Inc., 7485 N. Palm, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711, (4) HCOP Office, California State University-Fresno, 2555 East San Ramon M/S SB 68, CSUF-HCOP, Fresno, CA 93740-8031, (5) HCOP Program, California State University, Fresno, 2555 East San Ramon Ave SB 68, Fresno, CA 93740

Breast cancer among Latinas is a major public health problem. The incidence of breast cancer among Latino farm working women is yet to be determined due to the transient nature of this population. This project involved a community-based participatory research approach with migrant farm working- males living in a rural area of California. It was developed through a partnership between a university and a community-based organization. It included a pre-test and a post-test through three discussion circles, the completion of a community-based instrument for low-literacy populations known as The Tree of Health, and the development of community theaters. Inclusion criteria included being a male, with farm working occupation, older than 18 years old, and first migrant generation. Human Subjects approval was granted before collection of data. The use of theaters as a community-based methodology for breast cancer education with Latino males was studied in this project. Participating community members and three university students created a theater script on the role that Latino males could play in motivating their female family members to adopt early detection breast cancer screening (self-breast examination, clinical exams, and mammography.) This theater script was presented to three rural communities with a total of 62 migrant farm working parents . Results of this study indicated significant improvement among participating males in their knowledge on breast cancer and significant changes in their attitudes and behaviors towards females' breast cancer screening. Participants were more likely to encourage their female family members to have screenings for breast cancer.

Learning Objectives:

People attending this session will be able to

1)Recognize the changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors of Latino farm-working males living in a rural community regarding breast cancer early detection techniques used by their female sexual partners (breast self-examination, annual clinical exam, mammography) when using community theaters.
2)Identify strategies to involve Latino farm-working males as as active agents in motivating their female partners to be healthy.

Keywords: Community Development, Breast Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This program was developed with support from a grant from the California State University, Fresno-Office for Service Learning and Civic Engagement.

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Project was developed with support from a grant from the California State University, Fresno Office for Community Service and Civic Engagement.

Committee on Affiliates Student Poster Session I

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA