{"id":6767,"date":"2022-11-09T14:30:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T21:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/center-health-equity-research\/?p=6767"},"modified":"2024-07-01T14:38:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T21:38:46","slug":"cancer-screening-native-american-disabled-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/center-community-health-engaged-research\/blog\/cancer-screening-native-american-disabled-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers develop cancer screening program for Native American women with disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Haeather<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How can you encourage breast and cervical cancer screenings for Native American women with intellectual and developmental disabilities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A group of researchers from Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona and their community partners found that emphasizing traditional teachings about health, highlighting the importance of prevention for caregivers and supporters, connecting advocacy to family and community, and partnering with local practitioners and local spiritual leaders and healers are important for cancer screening success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndividuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including those that are Native American, experience disparities in getting needed health services, like cancer screenings,\u201d Heather Williamson<\/strong>, project lead and associate professor, Occupational Therapy and the Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER), said. \u201cOur project team decided we needed to hear from women with disabilities, their supporting family and friends and community members to understand what we could do to make accessing health care easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand barriers to receiving breast and cervical cancer screenings for Native American women with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the research team interviewed them, their caregivers, healthcare and disability service providers, and community leaders. In total, they interviewed 30 rural-residing individuals and 18 urban-residing individuals in person or over the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researcher\u2019s main question was, \u201cWhat are the influences on breast and cervical cancer screening for Native American women with intellectual and developmental disabilities?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They published their results, \u201cAdapting a Cancer Screening Education Program for Native American Women with Disabilities<\/a>,\u201d in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers on the publication from Northern Arizona University included Williamson; Regents\u2019 professor Julie A. Baldwin<\/strong>, CHER director; and graduate assistants Andria Begay<\/strong> and Jennifer Etcitty<\/strong>. Researchers from the University of Arizona include Julie S. Armin<\/strong>, Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine; Agnes Attakai<\/strong>, Director of Health Disparities, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health; and community collaborator, Kim Russel<\/strong>l, Director, Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers also partnered with Hopi Cancer Support Services, a Centers for Disease Control and prevention-funded breast and cervical cancer early detection program; and the Tucson Indian Center, a provider of health and social services to Native American people in southern Arizona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding answers to promote cancer screening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the interviews, researchers found a lack of attention to disability in many health interactions and a need for providers to develop relationships with their patients, take extra steps to make their patients feel comfortable, and respect patient concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons for not getting breast or cervical screenings included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n