Supporting Latina Breast Health with Community-based Navigation

Latina women continue to face disproportionate breast cancer risk and well-documented breast health care barriers in Philadelphia. In response to breast health needs among Latinas in Philadelphia, a health-focused community-based organization, in partnership with a network of social and health service providers, began offering community-based navigation in 2005. Later, through funding from a federal agency, the organization launched the Naveguemos con Salud (NCS) Breast Health Partnership Project from 2010 to 2013. NCS offered breast health awareness and education to a broad audience of Latinas in Philadelphia and community-based navigation services to all interested in accessing a clinical breast exam (CBE) and/or mammogram. A 2017 survey revisited breast health needs among the same core population to inform next steps. Here, we explore how findings and lessons learned from a past program and an assessment of current needs can inform future community-clinical linkage and community-based navigation to improve access to breast cancer screening and a continuum of care for Latinas.