It's probably safe to say that breast and cervical cancer screening is not always foremost in the minds of American Indian and Alaskan Native women. That is in addition to other personal obstacles such as fear, lack of transportation, lack of child care. Institutional barriers sometimes include lack of female health care providers, inadequate number of health care providers which means having to wait a long time to get in to be seen, perceived lack of confidentiality. However, once routine screening is established, it offers the potential for confirming good health. It also offers great opportunity for early detection if cancer is present.
Early detection allows for early treatment which almost always means a good outcome.
The Women's Health Promotion Program promotes routine women's health checks in a collaborative effort that makes resources available especially for women with inadequate resources for screening. The Program provides training and technical assistance to Oregon tribes as they carry out activities to increase the number of Indian women who are screened for breast and cervical cancer. The Women's Health Promotion Program is one of the Indian components of the Oregon Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. When the Women's Health Promotion Program began in February 1995, representatives from each of the nine federally recognized tribes along with two other Indian health programs met to develop a comprehensive, four-year plan. The Women's Health Promotion Coalition meets regularly, oversees program activities and leads screening efforts in their communities.