Arabic speaking GPs are being sought to champion the Arabic-speaking breast screening community engagement initiative.
The initiative is addressing the low breast cancer screening rates among Arabic-speaking women in South Western Sydney.
BreastScreen South Western Sydney, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Cancer Institute NSW and other key agencies and organisations, including SWSPHN, have partnered to develop an Arabic-speaking Breast Screening Community Engagement Plan.
Through culturally appropriate education and activities, the plan aims to improve breast screening participation rates and address barriers to screening for eligible women.
The project team is targeting the Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs which have the highest numbers of women not undertaking breast screening, but is also engaging across the region.
If you would like to champion this project or have any questions, please contact SWSPHN Priority Populations Program Advisor Rachael Taylor via email at Rachael.Taylor@swsphn.com.au
Background:
Improving cancer outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities is a key focus of the NSW Cancer Plan 2022-2027 because people from these backgrounds are less likely to participate in screening programs, including the breast screening program.
Strategies to encourage participation in screening programs in these communities is a key activity outlined in the plan, which aims to improve cancer survival among priority populations living in South Western Sydney.
BreastScreen NSW has identified culturally and linguistically diverse women aged 50 to 74 as a priority population.
Arabic-speaking communities represent one of the largest under-screened groups in South Western Sydney. This cohort is underrepresented in routine breast screening and as a result, may experience poorer breast cancer outcomes.
As of December 2022, participation rates in the BreastScreen NSW (South Western Sydney) program for eligible Arabic-speaking women was 48 per cent compared to 53 per cent of the general population.
BreastScreen South Western Sydney Screening and Assessment Service recognises women from these communities face specific cultural, linguistic and physical barriers to participating in cancer screening programs.