Grant: Operating Grant

Immigrant and low-income populations in Ontario have lower cancer screening rates for each of breast, cervix, and colon cancer. Women from South Asia (i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) have breast and cervical cancer screening rates lower than those of their peers. These patterns of inequity for South Asians can continue after many years of residency. Broad community participation is needed to understand the complex causes of cancer screening inequities and improve the reach of population-based screening programs. This study is Phase II of a three phase strategy to engage Ontario's Peel Region, an area with a large South Asian population and low cancer screening rates, to implement interventions to increase cancer screening among South Asians. The overall strategy is being conducted in partnership with the provincial overseer of cancer screening programs and regional community leaders. Phase I will determine community-identified barriers to cancer screening. The aims of the current proposal, Phase II of the strategy, are to: 1.Establish an advisory group of residents, primary care providers, non-clinical community groups, and public health agencies to engage in on-going knowledge exchange meetings with researchers throughout the two-year study. Participate with the advisory group to: 2.Select evidence-based intervention strategies to address barriers to cancer screening among South Asians in Peel. 3.Establish a network of public health agencies, community service groups, and primary care providers to tailor and implement the intervention strategies. 4.Pre-test the intervention strategies to assess reach, acceptability, and feasibility. This study will increase collective problem-solving skills among community members to implement health promotion strategies, and implement intervention strategies that will be evaluated in Phase III to determine the effectiveness to increase use of cancer screening among South Asians in Peel.