12 research outputs found
Dr. Maria Idali Torres, Dr. Paul Watanabe, and Marvin Venay with Representative Linda Dorcena Forry discuss, Election 2010 and Communities of Color at Ford Hall Forum, video recording, 11/4/2010
No full textDr. Maria Idali Torres, Director of the Mauricio Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy; Dr. Paul Watanabe of the Institute of Asian American Studies at UMass Boston; and Marvin Venay, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus join State Representative Linda Dorcena Forry to explore how the newly-elected and -reelected officials will address legislation and policies affecting Asian American, Black, and Latino populations.https://dc.suffolk.edu/fhf-av/1103/thumbnail.jp
The social and economic impact of an outbreak of dengue
No full textThis study documented the social, economic and psychosocial impact of the 1990 outbreak of dengue in Lares, a rural municipality in Puerto Rico. It utilized a combined quantitative/qualitative methodological approach.^ Symptomatology presented by reported cases corresponded to the clinical picture of the mild form of the dengue virus. The social impact of the outbreak was greater for the female head of the households and their children, and households in the urban and semi-rural areas. Female heads of households experienced the greatest loss of time. Their own illness and the illness of other family members disrupted and delayed their activities at home and outside. Social expectations and the family\u27s demands for their role as caretakers superseded those of their own sick role. In addition to the stress induced by the experience of being ill, female heads of households experienced other stressors. Mobilization of sources of social support within and outside the household minimized the consequences of its impact on the household.^ The economic impact for households was estimated in work time lost, income lost and health care expenses. Loss of income was the main consequence of time lost from salaried work for both personal illness and for providing care to sick household members. The main consequence of the unsalaried work activities not trad itionally remunerated with money such as housework, was the inability of female heads to perform their routine activities to maintain family life. The monetary costs of health care absorbed a significant percentage of the household weekly income. The consequence of the economic impact appeared to be more significant for households in marginal urban communities with scarce economic resources, already struggling for economic survival.^ In sum, although the outbreak was experienced for a relatively short period of time, it interfered with the family, work and social life of the households affected. The impact of the outbreak, however, had reversible consequences and recoverable costs which are also probably associated with other common viral infections. The implications of salient results for dengue prevention and control, and for the field of applied medical anthropology were discussed.
J Cancer Educ
No full textWe assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and initial impact of a church-based educational program to promote breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among Latinas ages 18 years and over. We used a one-group pre-/post-evaluation within a low-income, Latino Baptist church in Boston, MA. Participants completed interviewer-administered assessments at baseline and at the end of the 6-month intervention. Under the guidance of a patient navigator (PN), women from the church (peer health advisors, or PHAs) were trained to deliver evidence-based screening interventions, including one-to-one outreach, small group education, client reminders, and reduction of structural barriers to screening. The PN and PHAs also implemented a health fair, and the pastor integrated health information into regular sermons. At pre-intervention, nearly half of the sample did not meet screening guidelines. The majority (97%, n\u2009=\u200935) of those who completed the post-intervention assessment participated in intervention activities. Two thirds (67%) reported talking with the PN or PHAs about health issues. Participation in small group education sessions was highest (72%), with health fairs (61%) and goal setting (50%) also being popular activities. Fourteen percent also reported receiving help from the PN in finding a primary care provider. This study supports the feasibility and acceptability of churches as a setting to promote cancer screening among Latinas.U56 CA118641/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U54 CA156732/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U54CA156732/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U48 DP001946/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHSUnited States/U56 CA118635/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U54 CA156734/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/3U56CA118635-05S2/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U48DP001946/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHSUnited States
Am J Health Behav
No full textObjectivesTo assess cancer perceptions among churchgoers and to examine the potential
influence of fatalism and religious beliefs on the use of cancer screening tests.MethodsEight semi-structured focus groups were conducted among 67 Hispanic Catholics
in Massachusetts.ResultsIn this sample, there were few references to fatalistic beliefs about cancer
and nearly universal endorsement of the utility of cancer screening for cancer early
detection. Most participants reported that their religious beliefs encouraged them to
use health services, including cancer-screening tests. Although participants agreed that
God plays an active role in health, they also affirmed the importance of self-agency in
determining cancer outcomes.ConclusionsOur findings challenge the assumption that fatalism is an overriding
perspective among Hispanics. Catholic religious beliefs may contribute to positive
health attitudes and behaviors.R25GM062454/GM/NIGMS NIH HHSUnited States/U48DP001946/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHSUnited States/U54 CA156732/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U54CA156732/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/U48 DP001946/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHSUnited States/UL1TR000040/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/UL1 TR000040/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/R25 GM062454/GM/NIGMS NIH HHSUnited States
Por Ahí Dicen: Sexual Health Promotion Campaign in a Puerto Rican Community
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess Puerto Rican mother’s levels of exposure to the Spanish media campaign launched by Por Ahi Dicen, and to assess the identification mothers had with these stories. The methodology consisted of in-person survey interviews of 210 Puerto Rican mothers residing in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. The study used a sub-set of data taken from these interviews and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Stata15. The major finding of this study showed that the mothers who regularly watched television in the 90-day campaign time frame were more exposed to the campaign than they were with the other media formats: newspaper and radio– radio having had the lowest exposure rates of the campaigns. However, our second finding showed that even though the mothers were more exposed to the campaign through television, they felt more identification with the stories from the newspaper’s ads than from the other media formats. These results may indicate that having media sources that are easily accessible/retrievable throughout the day may be the most effective strategy in campaigning for public service and health announcements. This study may also lead to the implementation of social media campaign for easier access to hard-to-reach communities
BMC Health Serv Res
No full textBackgroundFaith-based organizations (FBOs) have been successful in delivering health promotion programs for African Americans, though few studies have been conducted among Latinos. Even fewer have focused on organizational change, which is required to sustain community-based initiatives. We hypothesized that FBOs serving Latinos would be more likely to offer evidence-based strategies (EBS) for cancer control after receiving a capacity enhancement intervention to implement health programs, and designed the CRUZA trial to test this hypothesis. This paper describes the CRUZA design and baseline findings.MethodsWe identified Catholic parishes in Massachusetts that provided Spanish-language mass (n = 65). A baseline survey assessed organizational characteristics relevant to adoption of health programs, including readiness for adoption, \u201cfit\u201d between innovation and organizational mission, implementation climate, and organizational culture. In the next study phase, parishes that completed the baseline assessment will be recruited to a randomized cluster trial, with the parish as the unit of analysis. Both groups will receive a Program Manual and Toolkit. Capacity Enhancement parishes will also be offered technical support, assistance forming health committees and building inter-institutional partnerships, and skills-based training.ResultsOf the 49 parishes surveyed at baseline (75%), one-third (33%) reported having provided at least one health program in the prior year. However, only two program offerings were cancer-specific. Nearly one-fifth (18%) had an active health ministry. There was a high level of organizational readiness to adopt cancer control programs, high congruence between parish missions and CRUZA objectives, moderately conducive implementation climates, and organizational cultures supportive of CRUZA programming. Having an existing health ministry was significantly associated with having offered health programs within the past year. Relationships between health program offerings and other organizational characteristics were not statistically significant.ConclusionsFindings suggest that many parishes do not offer cancer control programs, yet many may be ready to do so. However, the perceptions about existing organizational practices and policies may not be conducive to program initiation. A capacity enhancement intervention may hold promise as a means of increasing health programming. The efficacy of such an intervention will be tested in phase two of this study.R21MD005976/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United StatesU48DP001946/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United StatesU54CA156732/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United State
The Gastón Institute’s Response to Requests for Descriptive Socio-Demographic Profiles of Latinos in Massachusetts
No full textThe Gastón Institute responds to requests for periodic demographic updates on the Latino population in Massachusetts and other New England states. The rapidly changing makeup of the Latino population of Massachusetts calls for a deep understanding of the characteristics and situations of the different sectors of the community. While the non-Latino white population from Massachusetts declined around 4% over the last decade, the Latino population grew approximately 45%. This fact highlights the importance of Latino population to the State’s economic, political and social growth and stability
Influential Factors of Puerto Rican Mother-Child Communication About Sexual Health Topics
No full textIntroduction: Latina mothers play a central role in raising and socializing their children; however, few studies have examined the cultural, socio-cognitive and neighborhood-related variables influencing the level of communication between Puerto Rican mothers and their children about sexuality and sexual health. This cross-sectional study sought to examine these influences. Methods: Puerto Rican mothers with children aged 10-19 years (n = 193) were selected randomly for an ethnographic interview as part of a community participatory action research project in a U.S. urban northeastern community. Results: Bivariate analyses found statistically significant associations between the child's age (p = 0.002), the mother's past communication about traditional gender role norms of women (marianismo) (p < 0.001), her positive outcome expectations for communications with her child (p < 0.025), and her perceptions of the physical condition (p < 0.001) and sexual health problems (p = 0.047) in the neighborhood. In a multivariate model, all of these variables remained significant except sexual health problems, and mother's attitudes toward the obligations of children to parents (familismo) emerged as a factor associated with a decrease in the number of sexual health topics that mothers raised with their children. No significant effects were found for mother's spiritual and religious experience (religiosidad). Discussion: Our study highlights the importance of marianismo as a framework within which Puerto Rican mothers communicate sexual health information as well as the need to improve mothers' confidence discussing sexual health issues with their children. Future public health interventions to promote communication about sexuality and sexual health among Puerto Rican mothers should consider addressing this issue as a part of comprehensive neighborhood improvement projects
The Gastón Institute’s Partnership with the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Springfield, MA
No full textThe Gastón Institute responds to requests from government and foundations for CBPR studies seeking to test theories and methods for addressing disparities in educational, health, and economic outcomes in U.S. Latino and Latin American communities. Our future research in this area seeks to answer questions about the factors that contribute to the production of disparities in health, educational, and economic outcomes. Our current CBPR projects seek to test the feasibility of a variety of intervention strategies
Supports for Maternal Communication About Peer Pressure to Have Sex Among Puerto Rican Families
No full textThis research tests the independent contribution of social capital and the use of the internet to obtain health information to support maternal-child communication about peer pressure to have sex among Puerto Rican families. A sample of 413 Puerto Rican households in Springfield, MA provides the data to independently test these hypotheses. The results of a logistic regression model suggest that Puerto Rican mothers with increased social capital and who accessed the internet for health information are more likely to communicate with their adolescent children about peer pressure to have sex. The combination of these two mechanisms provide opportunities to convey culturally generated resources to Puerto Rican mothers to assist them in helping their children develop healthy sexual behaviors
