Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review
Breast cancer is a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs). We explore community health worker (CHW) programs and describe their potential use in LMCs. We use South Africa as an example of how CHWs could improve access to breast health care because of its middle-income status, exi...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Hindawi Limited
2011-01-01
|
Series: | Journal of Oncology |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/150423 |
id |
doaj-f0eb64162ca8460a8dbd7ac7c0da0a87 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-f0eb64162ca8460a8dbd7ac7c0da0a872020-11-24T21:26:46ZengHindawi LimitedJournal of Oncology1687-84501687-84692011-01-01201110.1155/2011/150423150423Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical ReviewBrianna M. Wadler0Christine M. Judge1Marianne Prout2Jennifer D. Allen3Alan C. Geller4Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Landmark 3rd Floor East, Boston, MA 02115, USADivision of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Landmark 3rd Floor East, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Talbot Building, Boston, MA 02118, USACenter for Community-Based Research, Cantor Center for Nursing Research and Patient Care Services, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USADivision of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Landmark 3rd Floor East, Boston, MA 02115, USABreast cancer is a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs). We explore community health worker (CHW) programs and describe their potential use in LMCs. We use South Africa as an example of how CHWs could improve access to breast health care because of its middle-income status, existing cancer centers, and history of CHW programs. CHWs could assume three main roles along the cancer control continuum: health education, screening, and patient navigation. By raising awareness about breast cancer through education, women are more likely to undergo screening. Many more women can be screened resulting in earlier-stage disease if CHWs are trained to perform clinical breast exams. As patient navigators, CHWs can guide women through the screening and treatment process. It is suggested that these roles be combined within existing CHW programs to maximize resources and improve breast cancer outcomes in LMCs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/150423 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Brianna M. Wadler Christine M. Judge Marianne Prout Jennifer D. Allen Alan C. Geller |
spellingShingle |
Brianna M. Wadler Christine M. Judge Marianne Prout Jennifer D. Allen Alan C. Geller Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review Journal of Oncology |
author_facet |
Brianna M. Wadler Christine M. Judge Marianne Prout Jennifer D. Allen Alan C. Geller |
author_sort |
Brianna M. Wadler |
title |
Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review |
title_short |
Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review |
title_full |
Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review |
title_fullStr |
Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review |
title_full_unstemmed |
Improving Breast Cancer Control via the Use of Community Health Workers in South Africa: A Critical Review |
title_sort |
improving breast cancer control via the use of community health workers in south africa: a critical review |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
Journal of Oncology |
issn |
1687-8450 1687-8469 |
publishDate |
2011-01-01 |
description |
Breast cancer is a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs). We explore community health worker (CHW) programs and describe their potential use in LMCs. We use South Africa as an example of how CHWs could improve access to breast health care because of its middle-income status, existing cancer centers, and history of CHW programs. CHWs could assume three main roles along the cancer control continuum: health education, screening, and patient navigation. By raising awareness about breast cancer through education, women are more likely to undergo screening. Many more women can be screened resulting in earlier-stage disease if CHWs are trained to perform clinical breast exams. As patient navigators, CHWs can guide women through the screening and treatment process. It is suggested that these roles be combined within existing CHW programs to maximize resources and improve breast cancer outcomes in LMCs. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/150423 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT briannamwadler improvingbreastcancercontrolviatheuseofcommunityhealthworkersinsouthafricaacriticalreview AT christinemjudge improvingbreastcancercontrolviatheuseofcommunityhealthworkersinsouthafricaacriticalreview AT marianneprout improvingbreastcancercontrolviatheuseofcommunityhealthworkersinsouthafricaacriticalreview AT jenniferdallen improvingbreastcancercontrolviatheuseofcommunityhealthworkersinsouthafricaacriticalreview AT alancgeller improvingbreastcancercontrolviatheuseofcommunityhealthworkersinsouthafricaacriticalreview |
_version_ |
1725977687605903360 |