The development of a community action plan to reduce breast and cervical cancer disparities between African-American and White women

Ethn Dis. 2004 Summer;14(3 Suppl 1):S53-60.

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to establish a coalition of academic, state, and community-based organizations to develop a community action plan (CAP) to eliminate breast and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality disparities between African-American (AA) and Caucasian women. The project targeted rural and urban low-income AA women in Alabama. Based on the logic model, community capacity building was implemented, followed by the development of a community-driven CAP. For community capacity building, a coalition comprising 12 organizations was established, and a network of 84 community volunteers was formed. Community needs assessments identified 3 levels of barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening: 1) individual, 2) community systems, and 3) healthcare provider. Based on these findings, a community-driven CAP was developed. Our results indicate that a coalition of diverse organizations can partner and develop CAPs to improve the health of their communities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alabama
  • Black or African American*
  • Breast Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Community Health Planning / organization & administration*
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Health Care Coalitions / organization & administration*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Healthy People Programs*
  • Humans
  • Models, Organizational
  • Needs Assessment
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • White People / psychology*