229599 Reproductive Justice as a Public Health Tool to Improve the Reproductive Health of Latina Immigrants

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Maria Gabriela Alcalde, MPH , Kentucky Health Justice Network, Louisville, KY
Latinas face myriad reproductive health challenges as evidenced by national and state statistics. These statistics speak to inequitable access to resources and opportunities in all realms of society, including, but not limited to, health care. Addressing health in a holistic manner, acknowledging its root causes, and engaging the community is key to sustainable and transformative change. Reproductive justice is closely aligned with public health's understanding of the social determinants of health by focusing on the root and context of reproductive health outcomes. The Sembradoras de Justicia Reproductiva (Those Who Sow Seeds of Reproductive Justice) program is a partnership between two non-profit organizations in Kentucky and offers monthly two-hour sessions with foreign-born Latina immigrants. Based on the reproductive justice framework, the program addresses reproductive and sexual health and offers childcare, food, information, and a safe space to explore assumptions to those participating. The program is facilitated in Spanish to a group of anywhere from 10-21 adult women, and addresses issues such as anatomy and functions, family planning, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, intimate partner violence and sexual assault, sexual identity and orientation, immigration and reproductive rights, speaking to your children about sexuality, pregnancy and childbirth, and others. Sessions consist of a brief presentation-- including participatory activities-- and are primarily participant-lead and centered on conversation and self-reflection. Key components are co-learning, shared evidence-based and experiential knowledge, valuing our own experiences, leadership-building, and finding our individual and collective voice in a safe space. This session will explore the development and implementation of this program (and its underlying framework and approach), and provide preliminary evaluation data.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1) Participants will be able to discuss the reproductive justice approach and its utility in public health efforts. 2) Participants will be able to differentiate between a traditional health education approach and a reproductive justice approach to co-learning 3) Participants will be able to identify some of the key components of the program upon which this presentation is based

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Latinas

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am State Director of the Kentucky Health Justice Network, which is co-developer of the program I will be presenting on. I am one of two people developing and implementing the program I will be presenting on. I am submitting this abstract with my co-developer's full knowledge.
Any relevant financial relationships? 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.