Faculty Collaboration Database

Increasing Mammography Uptake Through Academic-Community Partnerships Targeting Immigrant and Refugee Communities in Milwaukee. WMJ 2018 Jun;117(2):55-61

Date

07/27/2018

Pubmed ID

30048573

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85051563507 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   13 Citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Milwaukee, a city characterized by high rates of racial segregation and a growing immigrant population, has large race-based breast cancer survival disparities. To address these disparities, breast health education workshops were offered through a community-academic partnership (CAP) to women from various ethnic backgrounds. This paper explores attendance, satisfaction, and rates of screening mammography among workshop attendees.

METHODS: Partnerships were formed with community-based organizations, a mobile mammography unit, and the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, a state-supported program providing free mammograms. Multilingual staff provided monthly breast health education workshops at community settings and coordinated transportation. Participants completed surveys that included demographics, prior screening history, barriers to screening, and program evaluation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and analyze data.

RESULTS: Over a 24-month period, 493 women-most of whom sought services at partnering organizations that serve primarily immigrants, refugees, and racial minorities-attended breast health workshops, with 374 participants completing surveys (mean age = 45 years). A total of 360 were ≥ 40 years old. Among these women, 188 (113 insured [60%], 75 uninsured [40%]) reported no prior mammogram in the past 2 to 5 years. After attending the workshop, mammogram uptake was 100% among the insured and 80% among the uninsured. Satisfaction with the workshops was high; 73% of attendees rated them highly informative.

CONCLUSIONS: Our CAP offered culturally tailored breast health education and access to screening via a mobile unit that was well attended, highly rated, and increased screening mammography.

Author List

Kamaraju S, DeNomie M, Visotcky A, Banerjee A, Krause K, Tavares E, Rao A, Drew E, Neuner J, Stolley M

Authors

Anjishnu Banerjee PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Sailaja Kamaraju MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Joan Neuner MD, MPH Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Melinda Stolley PhD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Alexis M. Visotcky Biostatistician III in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Breast Neoplasms
Early Detection of Cancer
Emigrants and Immigrants
Female
Health Education
Humans
Mammography
Middle Aged
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Public-Private Sector Partnerships
Refugees
Urban Population
Wisconsin