Collaborative Community-Based Strategies and Culturally Competent Approaches to Improve Genetic Literacy Among At-Risk Asian American Women

Asian immigrants face economic, cultural and linguistic barriers in accessing mainstream health care services. The most vulnerable are pregnant women and women of childbearing age who may be at risk for bearing children with birth defects and genetic disorders, yet they lack access to culturally and linguistically appropriate genetics education and counseling services. The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, with funding from March of Dimes and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), developed culturally competent genetics education materials for Chinese and Korean immigrant communities in New York City. Workshop curricula and brochures were developed and pilot tested with input from community members and the health center's genetic counseling patients to address the unique needs of the population. At least four community workshops targeting 75-100 women and their families were implemented by bilingual-bicultural health educators. Outreach efforts were complemented by a media campaign consisting of dissemination of materials at community events and publication of genetics education articles in major Chinese language newspapers. Dissemination efforts include partnering with national organizations and other community groups to distribute and publicize best practices and genetics educational materials to a regional and national audience. The initiatives resulted in an increase in access and availability of innovative genetics educational materials that facilitated informed decision making and increased uptake of genetics services by Asian immigrant families in New York City.