An electronic publication from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Issue 9, November 2000 - February 2001 : ISSN 1329-3362
Conference abstracts and papers
12th National Health Promotion Conference: Inequalities in health
- reflecting back, stepping forward.
29 October - 1 November 2000, Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne, Victoria.
Fay Acklin (Acknowledgement:
Lyn Hancock and Tham Yo)
What Koori women know,
feel, believe and perceive about cervical cancer and pap test.
It is well known and documented by non-Aboriginal professionals and others that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women do not attend existing health screening services for the early detection of cancer whether it be cervical or breast. This project aims to make existing screening services for Koori women culturally acceptable and to develop sustainable strategies within existing infrastructure. Data presented will focus on the barriers to screening and factors that would make existing screening services more culturally acceptable. Within this framework culturally appropriate resources will be discussed, including a video 'Murrakkeen, Ngarroe-gayeen' (Young Woman, Old Woman). The developed resources aim to increase awareness of cervical cancer thereby increasing the screening rates and, in the long-term, decrease the rates of cervical cancer in Koori women.
