Initiative to boost breast screening rates among Griffith’s Italian community
A BreastScreen NSW initiative is aiming to boost breast screening participation among women of Italian origin living in
Griffith, who are underrepresented in screening numbers.
The Griffith Community Navigator project aims to identify five women who are well connected within the Italian community, to support more women to screen. Fewer than 20 per cent of women aged 50-74 who live in Griffith and speak Italian at home screen regularly with BreastScreen NSW.
Multicultural communities face significant barriers accessing cancer screening services and care, often due to language barriers, low health literacy, trauma, and cultural stigma and beliefs.
Director for BreastScreen NSW Greater Southern, Veronica Scriven, says the new project aims to respond to insights from local women to address the screening disparity.
“We understand that there are around 310 local Italian speaking women who are eligible to screen, free of charge, at our clinic in Binya Street, but only about 60 women are taking advantage of this opportunity to detect breast cancer early,” Ms Scriven said
“Detecting breast cancer early increases your chance of survival while reducing the likelihood of invasive treatment, such as mastectomy or chemotherapy, so we need to make sure Italian women are not missing out on our life saving service, for the sake of themselves and their families.”
Ms Scriven says they are looking for women who can draw on their cultural and community knowledge and connections to help BreastScreen NSW understand why Italian women aren’t screening and develop practical solutions to boost screening rates.
“We respect and value insights from local women we can learn from. They will be remunerated for their time, but ultimately motivated by knowing they can work with us to save the lives of women from their community,” Ms Scriven said.
Italian is the most common language spoken at home (other than English) by people diagnosed with cancer in Murrumbidgee Local Health District and the second most common language spoken at home (other than English) in the LHD’s general population.
This initiative is supported by the Cancer Institute NSW, under the Refugee Health Flexible Fund 2022-2024.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with age and being female the biggest risk factors – not family history.
Women aged 50-74 years are recommended to have a breast screen every two years. BreastScreen NSW recommends Aboriginal women start screening at 40 years.
Any woman who has noticed a change in their breasts, like a lump, should see their doctor without delay.
For more information and to make an appointment at a local BreastScreen NSW clinic or mobile van, call 13 20 50 or book online at www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.
An Expression of Interest document outlining the Community Navigator role can be obtained from MLHD-BreastScreenNSW@health.nsw.gov.au
Media contact: Local BreastScreen NSW health promotion officer, Heather Hillam 0411 037 566.