Te Apoyamos: A breast health network for indigenous and poor mestiza women in Ecuador

In Ecuador, morbidity and mortality rates for breast cancer is increasing. The incidence of breast cancer increased from 11.7% in 1989 to 15.9% in 2000 while the mortality rate increased from 25.9% to 34.5% (Corral et al, 2004). In addition to a paucity of health services such as mammography for all Ecuadorean women, there is a lack of community-based, culturally appropriate breast health programs for prevention, detection and follow-up post diagnosis. Te Apoyamos, a one year project funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, was designed to address this need in two communities in Ecuador. The project created a breast health network for indigenous women in a rural community (Las Balvinas) and for poor mestiza women in a marginalized, urban community (Atucuchu). The project was the result of a partnership between the Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Ecuador and the University of Portland in Oregon. Goals for the project were to: (1) design and implement a community based breast health program; (2) create linkages between the community breast health program and the local health care system; and, (3) create a process for sustainability and replicability of the program. Multiple objectives for each goal provided direction for the development and implementation process for the project. This presentation will include an overview of the project and key results for each goal. System issues, sustainability, replicability, and policy implications will be discussed as well as future directions for the project.