According to the 2011 Komen Connecticut Community Profile, the towns of Shelton and Naugatuck were identified as having breast cancer mortality rates higher than the state rate.
“We do not know why the mortality rates
from breast cancer are higher in the towns of Shelton and Naugatuck. We
are currently collecting important demographic and cultural information
to help us better understand why women are not getting mammograms in a
timely manner, which will help to save lives,” said Daun Barrett, RN,
director of the Griffin Hospital Community Outreach and Parish Nurse Program.
The community profile indicates that
diverse types of minority populations are at particular risk for
foregoing recommended breast screenings.
The black and African-American population represents nearly 4 percent of the population in Naugatuck and 1 percent in Shelton.
Hispanics represent 5 percent of the population in Naugatuck and 4 percent in Shelton. There are also large Polish and Portuguese communities in Naugatuck and even a larger Polish population in Shelton. Barrett said the education efforts will target these communities to ensure it reaches women with the most need.
The black and African-American population represents nearly 4 percent of the population in Naugatuck and 1 percent in Shelton.
Hispanics represent 5 percent of the population in Naugatuck and 4 percent in Shelton. There are also large Polish and Portuguese communities in Naugatuck and even a larger Polish population in Shelton. Barrett said the education efforts will target these communities to ensure it reaches women with the most need.
The Komen award will support the breast
health education efforts of the Griffin Hospital Valley Parish Nurse
Program.
Formed in 1990, The Griffin’s Valley Parish Nurse Program is one of the largest programs of its type in the area, providing free health screenings, links to healthcare, wellness and safety programs, and support services to community members throughout the Valley.
The grant will fund evaluations and questionnaires conducted by the Program’s Community Outreach Coordinators and Outreach Nurses to determine women’s understanding of breast care, a patient satisfaction survey, and tracking systems to record the number of women who received education and breast screenings, and demographic information on those served.
A minimum of 1,000 women will receive breast wellness education in an effort to increase access to screening mammograms at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.
Formed in 1990, The Griffin’s Valley Parish Nurse Program is one of the largest programs of its type in the area, providing free health screenings, links to healthcare, wellness and safety programs, and support services to community members throughout the Valley.
The grant will fund evaluations and questionnaires conducted by the Program’s Community Outreach Coordinators and Outreach Nurses to determine women’s understanding of breast care, a patient satisfaction survey, and tracking systems to record the number of women who received education and breast screenings, and demographic information on those served.
A minimum of 1,000 women will receive breast wellness education in an effort to increase access to screening mammograms at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.
The Komen award will also provide for
uninsured and underinsured women, free mammograms and screening
ultrasounds, which are used for women with dense breasts or
abnormalities. Working with the Valley Breast Wellness Initiative,
the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness will provide at least 200 free
mammograms to women of the Lower Naugatuck Valley through the Komen
funding.
For more information and to see if you
qualify for free mammograms, contact the Griffin Hospital Breast
Wellness Outreach Coordinator, 203-732-7371.
About The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital
The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness opened in 2011 and primarily serves the Lower Naugatuck
Valley and surrounding communities. For information, call
203-732-1300 or visit griffinhealth.org/cbw.
This information is taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.
This information is taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.
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