Preventing Cervical Cancer in Little Haiti: A CBPR Success Story

Haitian women residing in Little Haiti, the predominately Haitian neighborhood in Miami, Florida, experience an increased risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer. This disparity likely ensues from the interplay of multiple factors, most notably underutilization of Pap smear screening. Historical efforts to improve routine screening in Little Haiti have been largely unsuccessful, though there is limited empirical data to explain why . As part of an ongoing Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) initiative in Little Haiti known as Patne en Akyson (Partners in Action), we conducted a series of key informant interviews (n=20) to explore community leaders' perspectives on the futility of past efforts. Our findings implicate the discrepancy between Haitian and Western Medicine's notions of disease prevention, racism, and disenfranchisement from the formal economy as potential barriers to successful cancer prevention in this community. This presentation will describe our efforts to overcome such barriers through meaningful collaboration and cooperation between academic investigators from the University of Miami and community leaders from Little Haiti. Over the past three years, we have worked collectively to identify low-cost, culturally acceptable alternatives to the Pap smear,and to promote screening in a manner consistent with Haitian socio-cultural perceptions of health and disease prevention. Our experience may inform future CBPR efforts in other communities at similar risk for contributing to cancer disparities.