• Assistance with scheduling screenings
• Free mammograms
• Free clinical breast exams
• Free Pap tests
• Transportation and interpretation
• Community-based education on breast & cervical cancer
• Annual follow-up reminders

Women 18 and over who are uninsured or under-insured and meet the income guidelines of the SAGE Screening Program at the Minnesota Department of Health are eligible.  

Cultural barriers to screening in the Vietnamese population

A study of breast and cervical cancer screening in King County, Washington, found that only 7% of Vietnamese women over 18 had had a pap test in the past 3 years.  Similarly, only 18% of Vietnamese women over 50 had had a clinical breast exam and mammogram in the past 2 years compared to 67% in the general population.  Barriers to screening include: 

• Language barrier—many came to the US with very little or no English language skills
• Transportation—older Vietnamese women tend NOT to drive
• Modesty issues—uncomfortable exposing their bodies to others
• Don’t have the necessary education to understand breast & cervical cancer
• Preventive care is unknown to Vietnamese

Strategies that VSS uses to improve screening rates

In order to remove these barriers, VSS used the following strategies. 

• Provide education on breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer in the Vietnamese language at:

- ESL and citizenship classes
- Churches and Temples
- Informal groups in residence and building complexes
- Community events such as the Vietnamese New Year and Summer
  and Autumn festivals
- Workplaces with large group of Vietnamese employees such as
  nail and hair salons where most employees are uninsured
- Schools

• Hold monthly cancer discussions on KFAI Vietnam Radio
• Publish articles on cancer in Vietnamese papers
• Recruit bilingual lay health workers
• Develop reminder system
• Do follow up with clinic and patient if follow up treatment is needed

The most unique part of out program is the one on one interaction between program staff and patient.  Trust is a must have component in our program success.

Collaboration is Key

Collaboration plays a very important role in the sustainability of the project.  VSS receives the support of screening services from the Sage program at the Minnesota Department of Health and incentive vouchers from the American Cancer Society. 

For more information, contact: Marie Minh-Hien Tran

Phone: 651-917-2945

Email: mariemhtran@vssmn.org

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Rev. 05-25-07