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Addressing Breast Cancer Health Disparities in the Mississippi Delta Through an Innovative Partnership for Education, Detection, and Screening

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Abstract

Projects to reduce disparities in cancer treatment and research include collaborative partnerships and multiple strategies to promote community awareness, education, and engagement. This is especially needed in underserved areas such as the Mississippi Delta where more women are diagnosed at regional and distant stages of breast cancer. The purpose for this project was to increase the relatively low screening rate for African American women in the Mississippi Delta through a partnership between the Mississippi Network for Cancer Control and Prevention at The University of Southern Mississippi, The Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation and the Mississippi State Department of Health to decrease health disparities in breast cancer through increased awareness on self-early detection methods, leveraging resources to provide mammography screenings, and adequate follow-up with services and treatment for abnormal findings. Through this collaborative effort, over 500 women in three rural Mississippi Delta counties were identified, provided community education on early self-detection, and given appointments for mammography screenings within one fiscal year.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by Avon Foundation to the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5122, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA

    Susan Mayfield-Johnson & Danielle Fastring

  2. College of Business, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS, USA

    Melody Fortune

  3. Mississippi Network for Cancer Control and Prevention, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

    Freddie White-Johnson

  4. The Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation, Ruleville, MS, USA

    Freddie White-Johnson

Authors
  1. Susan Mayfield-Johnson
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  2. Danielle Fastring
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  3. Melody Fortune
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  4. Freddie White-Johnson
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Correspondence to Susan Mayfield-Johnson.

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Mayfield-Johnson, S., Fastring, D., Fortune, M. et al. Addressing Breast Cancer Health Disparities in the Mississippi Delta Through an Innovative Partnership for Education, Detection, and Screening. J Community Health 41, 494–501 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0121-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0121-2

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