2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

317306
Hepatitis B Outreach and Education of African-born Industrial Workers in Central Illinois


Monday, November 2, 2015

Patricia Canessa, MA, MBA, PhD, Illinois Public Health Association, Springfield, IL
African-born French-speaking agricultural and industrial workers began to emerge as a visible group in Central Illinois five years ago iimigrants from Togo arrived to work at meat-processing plants. Currently new waves from Central Africa continue to arrive to this area resulting in major concerns about disease control, prevention and response to undiagnosed conditions. The Hepatitis B project in Central Illinois is the first in its nature. The project uses a social network model recruiting and training five "Health Communicators" who are trusted members of the African community to inform peers and distribute French language information cards with illustrations to promote vaccination, screening and treatment among their network. Identified clinics with culturally and linguistically competent providers serve as a safety net of referrals. Health communicators meet periodically with the corporation/business nursing staff and members of the project team addressing complex requests from their peers. and learning updated information on hepatitis. The model is based in the CDC approved Popular Opinion Leader model. Data on participation of clinical follow-up, immunizations or engagement in prevention strategies is collected. The project expects to reduce new infections and respond to the treatment needs of workers with liver complications among 400 participants. "Health Communicators" are compensated with financial allowances as they report about their contacts and peer navigation.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Design a community health promotion campaign to increase awareness about the risk of Hepatitis B transmission among West African immigrants. Formulate a social network model as an effective prevention strategy to inform African immigrant communities about means of transmission, diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis B. Identify and engage employers and other local resources in facilitating the implementation of communicable disease interventions and referrals.

Keyword(s): Cultural Competency, Health Care Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the planning, development and implementation of the described project. I have extensive experience in design and adaptation of behavioral and public health culturally competent evidence-based interventions addressing the specific risks and characteristics of people of color. Academic, CDC specific and local health department training and certifications. Member of planning groups, boards and committees addressing minority health.
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.

Back to: 3199.0: Barriers and enablers promoting or impeding health among immigrants and refugees communities 2