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[PA-18] Culturally Appropriate Means to Disseminate Health Information and Recruit Minorities: The Sub-Saharan African French Speaking ProgramDorcas Muteteke, MD, (Julie Bailey, LMSW), West End Medical Center, Atlanta, GA
Problem: The Sub-Saharan African French Speaking (SSAFS) population is growing in Metropolitan Atlanta. According to a Catholic Social Services' census, there are more than 11,000 Sub-Saharan African French Speaking people in Atlanta. When this population comes to America they experience cultural barriers such as language, religion, education and ethnicity; added to their lack of medical insurance, access to health care becomes a major challenge. West End Medical Center has met the challenge of eliminating those barriers by implementing the SSAFS program and by hiring SSAFS staff that participated in developing culturally appropriate means of patient recruitment and dissemination of health information.
Outreach activities: Short term, based on individual contacts with patients needing health care. Many referrals are made by SSAFS patients who refer their family and friends. Mid term, based on contacts with businesses and community representatives. Long term, based on contacts with agencies and official organizations, health fairs.
Results: A tracking and data collection system shows that after 6 months of Program existence, the patients' census increased from 27, (2001) to 61 OB patients and an average 125 SSAFS patients seen per month in combined Departments. A good relationship based on trust has developed between patients and staff.
Conclusion: It is important to develop specific means of disseminating health information and recruiting patients for each community in order to reach the underserved and deliver health care in an effective manner.
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Date: July 10-12, 2002
Location: Hilton Hotel & Towers, Washington, DC
Sponsor: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health / Office of Public Health and Science
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