Teatro del Oprimido: Using theatre to increase empowerment, self-efficacy, and cervical cancer screening among Latinas

Background: Our previous research investigating barriers to cervical cancer prevention among Latino immigrants from Mexico found that that many immigrants believed that the Pap smear screens for STDs, including AIDS, and that men have a significant influence over their partners' health seeking behaviors. Our current research investigates the use of Teato del Oprimido (Theatre of the Oppressed) as an effective way to disseminate information about screening to a low-literacy, frequently disenfranchised population, while also empowering participants to feel that they can actively intervene for their own health. Methods: Our community based steering committee, community based cancer survivors, and academic partners jointly developed a theatre piece about cervical cancer prevention using techniques of Teatro del Oprimido, which encourages audience members to interrupt the play's action and change actors' decisions and consequences. Pre and post surveys as well as participant observation measure results in terms of knowledge acquisition, self-efficacy, and empowerment. Results: The theatre workshops are currently being successfully implemented and evaluated at several community sites throughout Oregon. Conclusions/Discussion: Our previous research uncovered misconceptions about the Pap smear and demonstrated that Latino men should be involved in discussions regarding women's health. Our community partners stressed that passive dissemination of information is not sufficient to achieve meaningful change. Using Teatro del Oprimido, and targeting both men and women, we have wed informational and empowerment based objectives