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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Erin Kobetz, PhD, MPH¹, Clyde McCoy, PhD¹, Regine Lefevre, MD, MPH², Dorothy F. Parker, MHS³, and Betsy Barton, MA³. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Fox Cancer Research Building, 1550 NW 10th Avenue, Suite 308, Miami, FL 33136, 305-243-6185, ekobetz@med.miami.edu, (2) Center for Haitian Studies, 8260 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33138, (3) Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, PO Box 016960 (D4-11), Division of Cancer Prevention & Control, Miami, FL 33101

“Partners in Action,” or Patnč an Aksyon in Haitian Creole, represents a campus-community partnership between the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (UM SCCC) and key Haitian American community-based organizations in Miami, Florida. This partnership aims to alleviate the excess burden of breast cancer morbidity and mortality experienced by Haitian American women living in the Miami metropolitan area. When compared to other racial/ethnic minorities and immigrant populations in Miami, Haitian women are more likely to suffer disability and death from breast cancer, largely as a function of their stage of disease at diagnosis. Haitian women are typically diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer (Stages III and IV) when the prognosis for survival is poor. Previous research has not examined why Haitian American women present with late-stage breast cancer, despite the growing importance of this population sub-group within South Florida. Thus, the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for Patnč an Aksyon decided to undertake research toward this end. We are currently conducting a two-year study to identify the determinants that account for the exaggerated late-stage presentation of breast cancer among Haitian American women. All data are collected by Community Health Workers (CHWs) who are indigenous to Little Haiti, fluent in Haitian Creole, and trained to conduct research. In this presentation, we will discuss preliminary findings, as well as lessons learned.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants (learners) will be able to

• Understand challenges to conducting traditional epidemiologic inquiry in Little Haiti, a predominately Haitian neighborhood in Miami, Florida
• Describe the goals of Partners in Action, a community-based participatory research initative in Little Haiti ;
• Articulate Partners' preliminary research findings.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Breast Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation