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. 2017 Apr 1;32(2):163-173.
doi: 10.1093/her/cyx033.

Promoting cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas: Fe en Acción/faith in action

J P Elder  1   2 , J Haughton  1 , L G Perez  1 , M E Martínez  2 , C L De la Torre  1 , D J Slymen  1 , E M Arredondo  1
Affiliations

Promoting cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas: Fe en Acción/faith in action

J P Elder et al. Health Educ Res. .

Abstract

Cancer screening rates among Latinas are generally low, reducing the likelihood of early cancer detection in this population. This article examines the effects of a community intervention (Fe en Acción/Faith in Action) led by community health workers (promotoras) on promoting breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas. Sixteen churches were randomly assigned to a cancer screening or a physical activity intervention. We examined cancer knowledge, barriers to screening and self-reported mammography, clinical breast exam, Pap test, fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Participants were 436 adult Latinas, with 16 promotoras conducting a cancer screening intervention at 8 out of 16 churches. The cancer screening intervention had a significant positive impact on self-reported mammography (OR = 4.64, 95% CI: 2.00-10.75) and breast exams in the last year (OR= 2.82, 95% CI: 1.41-5.57) and corresponding reductions in perceived (87.6%) barriers to breast cancer screening (P < .008). Cervical and colorectal cancer screening did not improve with the intervention. These findings suggest Fe en Acción church-based promotoras had a significant impact on promoting breast cancer screening among Latinas. Colon cancer screening promotion, however, remains a challenge.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01776632.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Rates of cancer screening for specific tests among recommended age groups of churchgoing Latinas at baseline and 12-month follow-up, stratified by study condition. Fe en Accion, San Diego, CA, 2011–2014.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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