scholarly journals Harvesting Health Knowledge: Breast Cancer Perceptions in the South Florida Latinx Farmworker Community

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110035
Author(s):  
Felicia Casanova ◽  
Felicia M. Knaul ◽  
Natalia M. Rodriguez

South Florida agricultural regions, home to Latinx immigrant farmworkers, report higher rates of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis than national, state, and county-level averages. We conducted a community-based qualitative study on the needs, health knowledge gaps, barriers to breast cancer screening, and the role of community health workers (CHWs) in supporting the community’s access to early detection services. We conducted three CHW focus groups (FGs) ( n = 25) and in-depth interviews ( n = 15), two FGs ( n = 18) and in-depth interviews ( n = 3) with farmworker community members, and informal interviews with cancer clinicians ( n = 7). Using a grounded theory approach, five core themes regarding the community’s barriers to accessing health care services emerged: (a) lack of information; (b) social and economic barriers; (c) cultural factors; (d) fears and mistrust; and (e) psychosocial concerns. Findings yield implications for community health practice, the potential impact of CHWs, and the production of breast cancer education to improve health equity along with the care continuum.

Author(s):  
Dewi Andriani ◽  
Restuning Widiasih ◽  
Citra Windani Mambang S

Background, the incidence of breast cancer in women increases every year worldwide including Indonesia. Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is an early detection method for detecting breast cancer that can be done by all women. However, research in Indonesia that examines women's knowledge about BSE, especially in women who have teenage daughters is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify women's knowledge about BSE, especially women with teenage daughters. Method, This study was quantitative descriptive research. The samples were selected using the total sampling technique. The number of samples was 138 women who have teenage daughters. This study was conducted in Sarijadi Village, Bandung. The research instrument was a knowledge questionnaire about BSE. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution. The results of the study, women had a moderate level of knowledge about BSE (51.4%) Women's knowledge was good in the component of purposes and benefits of the BSE (79.7%), and they had poor understanding related to identifying sources to conduct BSE to their daughters (73.2%), Conclusions and recommendation, women have good knowledge about the purposes and benefits of BSE, however they had lack of knowledge about the role of women in supporting girls to conduct BSE.  Women need information from health workers relates to their roles in conducting BSE to their daughters. Further research is needed to examine the knowledge and role of fathers in women’s health especially daughters including early detection of cancer as supporting and maintaining daughters' health in the family are parents’ responsibilities including father.  Keywords: BSE, breast cancer, health knowledge, mothers, teenage women.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Chang ◽  
May Oo ◽  
Adriana Rojas ◽  
April Joy Damian

Abstract Background: Growing evidence suggests that community health workers (CHWs) can play a key role in delivering culturally competent preventive care services, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), and improving the health outcomes of underserved populations. This study sought to understand the experiences of patients with Type 2 diabetes working with a CHW in a safety net setting.Methods: A convenience sample (n=13) who participated in a six-month CHW pilot program at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) was recruited for in-person or telephone semi-structured interviews that included 17 open-ended questions regarding patients’ experiences with the CHW program. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a traditional text analysis method based on a grounded theory approach to identify themes related to the participants’ perspectives of the CHW program.Results: This study highlights the CHW program can improve satisfaction in accessing health services and community resources, and overall health outcomes of patients in the safety net practices. Moreover, patients discussed the positive impact of the CHW program in terms of improved medical knowledge, access to medical services, and self-efficacy. The CHW’s professionalism also helped to establish rapport and trust that further supported behavior changes related to patients’ health goals.Conclusion: Patients’ overall positive perception regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of the CHW program indicated that the intervention may be a viable solution to address the health and social needs of patients in safety net settings. Additionally, CHW programs can help to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare team by mitigating barriers to care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
João Bastos Freire Neto ◽  
Gerídice Lorna Andrade de Moraes ◽  
Janaína de Souza Aredes ◽  
Karla Cristina Giacomin ◽  
Luciane Ponte de Melo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Brazil is seeing rapid population ageing, which is leading to new demands on primary health care services. There is a need to develop and assess the effectiveness of new interventions to build the capacity of staff, including community health workers, to meet the needs of groups such as care-dependent older people and their care-givers. This study examines the feasibility of a small training intervention piloted in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza. Methods The study evaluated participants’ own assessments of key knowledge and skills related to the needs of care-dependent older people, both before and after the training intervention. It also assessed their capacity to implement a simple screening tool of geriatric risk factors. Results The participant self-assessments indicate significant improvements in their perceived knowledge and capacity in responding to the health needs of care-dependent older people. Additionally, participants were able to successfully conduct the home visits and screening for risk factors. Conclusions The study demonstrates the feasibility of developing interventions to enhance the capacity of community health workers to meet the needs of dependent older people in countries like Brazil. The evidence of effectiveness, though limited and subjective, provides justification for a larger, formally evaluated intervention. The experience of Fortaleza provides valuable lessons for other cities and countries in the region which are facing similar challenges.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle D. S. Boakye ◽  
Collins J. Owek ◽  
Elizabeth Oluoch ◽  
Sefa Bonsu Atakora ◽  
Juddy Wachira ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundMalaria continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Community Case Management of malaria (CCMm) through engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) to effectively address management of malaria cases in some endemic communities was explored in this study. We assessed the needs of CHWs that would help sustain and retain their services to enhance the efficient delivery of CCMm. MethodsData on the needs of CHWs was gathered through a qualitative study consisting of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted among study participants in five districts in western Kenya using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study participants comprised of 100 CHWs, 100 mothers of children under five years and 25 key informants made up of public health officers and clinicians involved in the CCMm. The interviews were conducted in English and Swahili or Dholuo, the local language. The recorded audio interviews were transcribed later. The analysis was done using NVivo version 7 software and transcripts were coded after which themes related to the objectives of the study were identified.ResultsAll the study participants recognized the need to train and update CHWs on their work as well as remunerating them for their services to enhance efficient delivery of services. The CHWs on their part perceived the provision of gloves, RDTs, lancets, cotton wool and ethanol, bins (to dispose of RDTs and lancets), together with drugs for treating clients as their essential needs to undertake CCMm in the communities. Other logistical needs and incentives mentioned by CHWs and key informants for the successful delivery of CCMm included: gumboots, raincoats, torch lights, mobile phones, means of transportation (bicycles and motorbikes), uniforms and ID cards for identification. ConclusionCHWs would perform tasks better and their services retained for a sustainable CCMm if properly incentivized, offered refresher trainings (and updates) on malaria and equipped with the requisite tools identified in this study.


2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha M. Sanchez ◽  
Victor R. Grann ◽  
Carol Magai ◽  
Maxine Ashby-Thomspon ◽  
Ana Chacon ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e91781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shankar Prinja ◽  
Gursimer Jeet ◽  
Ramesh Verma ◽  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
Pankaj Bahuguna ◽  
...  

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