163420 ISIS Project: Intimate Sessions for Informed Sexuality

Monday, November 5, 2007

Anafidelia Tavares, MD, MPH , The Balm In Gilead, New York, NY
Camille Parara, MPH , The Balm In Gilead, New York, NY
Pernessa Seele, MS , The Balm In Gilead, New York, NY
The ISIS Project was established by the Balm In Gilead, Inc to address the cervical cancer disparity among African American women through comprehensive cervical cancer prevention education. The Balm In Gilead partnered with women's missionary societies of three African American religious denominations with a combined reach of 7 million. Women's missionary societies pledged to make cervical cancer education and intervention a priority health concern in their ministries. Denominations were asked to co-host workshops and recruit women to attend these workshops. In 2005- 2006, the ISIS Project Tour was unveiled in Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Cincinnati, District of Columbia, and Jacksonville. A total of 536 women participated. Preliminary findings from 257 participants suggest the majority were between 46-65 years old and although 60% reported having a Pap test within the last year; reports of having an HPV test were less common. Approximately one-fourth of the sample (29%) reported ever having an HPV test. After the educational workshop 70% of the women indicated their intention to get tested for HPV on their next doctor's visit. There were interesting regional variations in these reports. This presentation will describe the approach; delineate program components, and present preliminary findings from year one. The church as a trusted institution in the Black community can play a significant role in education and dissemination of HPV and cervical cancer information. Reducing disparities in cervical cancer will depend on development and testing of effective intervention strategies. The ISIS Project promises to make a significant contribution to that endeavor.

Learning Objectives:
Recognize the importance of the African American church in the African American community Describe program components to increase cervical cancer knowledge Discuss the preliminary findings from the ISIS Project Tour

Keywords: African American, Cancer Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Digene Corporation HPV testing Unrestricted educational grant to the Balm In Gilead

Any company-sponsored training? Yes
Did the company pay your travel and lodging? Yes
Were you provide you with slides as part of the training sessions? Yes
Did you receive an honorarium or consulting fee for participating in the training? Yes
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.