PODER: An effective health education program to increase breast and cervical cancer screening rates among high risk Latinas

The PODER Program (Promotoras Outreach, Detection, Education and Referral) at San Ysidro Health Center is a breast and cervical cancer education and screening program designed to increase the rate of breast exams, mammograms and pap-tests for low-income, uninsured Latinas on the US/Mexico Border. The program utilizes multiple strategies to increase screening rates. Included in these strategies are increased community education and outreach; linking women directly from classes to appointments; coordinating with a local hospital for special screening days and providing intensive case management. The program is evaluated through education pre/post tests, a general screening survey, conducting focus groups and random patient satisfaction survey's. Since the beginning of the program, over 8500 qualifying women have been screened, and according to the screening survey, over 30.8% of women who participated had not had a mammogram or pap-test in more than 2 years. Information collected via focus groups, letters and a recent random survey showed that prior to the program many women were unaware of either the importance of these services, and if they were aware, had no knowledge that funding was available to pay for them. Many women also mentioned they received mammograms as a result of the convenience offered in PODER. The program overall has been successful in raising awareness in the community of the importance of yearly screening, reducing the failure rates associated with mammogram referrals, and getting women who have not been screened services for the first time.